I am Strong - I will be Lean

2010-01-14T20:00:00.001+10:00

Beautiful Blogger

2010-01-03T05:47:00.003+10:00

So being tagged as beautiful blogger was the jump start I needed from Lia to get back into blogging. I started my first blog for 2010 with my astrology and this will be my random facts. This is the year of ensuring I finish the journey I started with the 12 week challenge at my gym. More of that later............time for the randoms.

1. I am scaredy cat............but not in the sense I am scared of spooky things. I am too scared to move out of my comfort zone, this is my downfall, which is really mismatched with my bravado attitude. Will do things on my own, like train, travel and go to movies but will not find the strength to leave the security blanket of a marriage that really is not a marriage. He is my friend and I don't want to hurt him.

2. I enjoy not having a close family and I feel guilty about it when others have no family! I am also glad I do not have a big family.

3. I do not like my job but do my job because it is easy. The job is not my 'oh my gosh, how lucky am I' type of job, I think that is yet to come. My dream is to have a 'Holistic' type of place in a beautiful rainforest setting where you can spend a day there. I would like to own it and rent out rooms/studios to others who wish to compliment the center ie personal training and yoga's of sorts, massages of all types, life coaching, general meeting place to discuss issues and problems over herbal teas and coffees with fresh and innovative food. It would also be a gallery of art of sorts. I would like to do this place with friends.

4. I love the beach, the ocean. It is soothing and it feels like home. This is not surprising as i am aquarian. I can sit and watch the waves and tidal ebbs for hours and find peace with it's constant movement.

5. I have discovered the world of herbal teas, the magical aromas that just tickles your senses.

6. I have ecclectic tastes and methods!

7. I have a lot but always seem to want more. This puzzles me and often frustrates me!

There we are, some very random facts about me.

Ciao!

Your year Ahead

2010-01-02T21:32:00.003+10:00

Aquarius

Yours is an unpredictable approach to life and love. Aquarians are facinated by the unusual and bored with the ordinary. You love being surrounded by people with friends coming from all walks of life. True Aquarius take people as they come and expect the same in return. No amount of cajoling will convince you to become involved in activities you don't believe in. When confronted with demands or rules, you rebel. You don't mind being asked to do something, but you do resent being told what to do!

Your Star Role: Shape Shifter................in the shamanic tradition, a shape shifter changes into another form (be it animal, human or mineral) to access certain strengths and perceptions. No physical morphing for you, but you will learn how to move between vastly different guises. It's a 'catch me if you can' game. Careers, relationships, even your persona - all are subject to change. Some will watch your progress with rapt fascination; others can't help but feel teased or frustrated with this constant change into different disguises.

2010 Overview: Good old fashioned practicality usually gets the best result. The trouble is you're bored with the tried and tested, and feel drawn towards thrill and adventure. So if unexpected offers arise, your'e likely to hop on board. Instict will help ou avoid any abstacles as you develop a feel for the right direction. Your emotional strength and determination make a powerful package, with any new study giving you the strength to follow through.

The Fire Horse either succeeds beyond our wildest imagination or goes down in flames; they are the movers and shakers of the world. . You tend to be volatile in the extreme and not afraid to take even the most dangerous risks. Depending on how much artistic talent you have, you can be a flamboyant, charismatic performer. You add excitement to our lives and are great to have around---when you can control your temper and innate restlessness.

Good news for the horses! Year 2010 might be one of the smoothest years for you. You will find bonds between your friends and relatives being built fairly easily. Keep a clear head when making decisions for you will find that plenty of decisions may sound familiar to one another but with very different outcomes. You may also tend to overfeed yourself in the upcoming year so be sure to keep on a healthy diet and exercise regularly.

Renegade Manmakers!

2009-10-14T10:18:00.002+10:00

Hey peepers, thought it was time to talk a little.

Well Challenge is travelling slowly now, as the initial weight drop has slowed somewhat down. That is good, means I am doing the right thing.

Training has geared up several notches with new styles of training being introduced to keep that body of my guessing at all times. I have noticed that my body can adapt to a training regime quite quickly, so the aim of the game is to freak it out at all times.

Having said that, last Friday we did a huge training session (Michelangelo the trainer and myself) which part of it was “Renegade Man Makers”! Whoa! Talk about hard and different. There are many versions of it on the web, but here is the one I did.

Start with dumbbells in hand in a push up position with legs slightly wider apart. Single row from each arm then down into a pushup. Burpee up from there into a standing shoulder press with DB. Single walking lunge on each leg. Do about 5 reps of this routine, then jump on rower for a full minute sprint – sitting around 65 – 70 strokes/min. this was then repeated 5 times. These little babies were done after 5 sets of clean and press set 30kg supaset with 16kg KB (50)swings and before 5 sets stair runs supaset with front kicks. Hmmm pattern here, must like everything in fives??? As you can see my weight training is very cardio based, with a few heavy sessions thrown in here and there. I do miss my heavy weights, but they will always come back! But absolutely loving it!

On the food front, my eating guidelines have changed again, increased to compensate all the exercise I am doing. I now have more carbs, more protein and of course, more broccoli!

Well there is officially 4 & ½ weeks left on the gyms 12 week challenge and I have come to the acceptance that I will not win it! I set my goal for this and will keep trying to achieve this goal, but as I said in the beginning it is a big ask…………….and I forgot about my body’s issue with recovery fluid. But overall I will have had a great result anyway, and you have always got to be happy with that. I know that my cardio fitness level is increasing all the time and that definitely is a goal achieved. And I am starting to enjoy the cardio side of things, probably because it is so different.

Well not much more to talk about, life has been the same almost everyday…………eating, training, sleeping.

Have a great week.

Ciao!

Changes are coming!

2009-10-07T09:00:00.001+10:00

I am too quick to judge!

2009-10-04T17:01:00.003+10:00

Hey there, about time posted me thinks.

First I think I will address a situation I was in last night. A dear friend of mine who is a FD at another gym told me she had taken on one of her trainers to train her. I don't like the guy and I promptly said so. But I think I upset her by saying this. I am only too sori if this is the case. My opinion of this person is only from past experience which he was not very nice to me. I tend to have a bit of a problem of remembering bad things and not letting go! A trait that i shall endeavour one day to fix, but alas the little gremlin feeling often comes back and clouds my judgements. I really should give that person the benefit of doubt that he is a changed person or I mistook his persona in the first place. I am only too happy that my friend has found another trainer that she feels confident with and one that she feels will produce the results she is looking for.

On to my challenge..............I have been really working hard at my challenge and yes I am doing a lot more than general life style changes would be, but remembering I have an awful lot of weight to shed. A comment was said to me on the weekend and I feel I just have to have a little say(seems to be the norm atm hhahahahah) If this is working for me atm, then I think i will stick to something that is working, even if I am busting my boiler to get. I figure if I can get there, it would to easier to maintain at a lifestyle level than at the weight loss level. i have been on this yoyo run for a very long time and even with the knowledge behind me (yes I have my cert 3 and cert 4 in Fitness)I still struggle mentally with all the ups and downs of the day to day humdrums of trying to lose the weight I have put on over 18 years. I also have another bad trait and take to heart when someone else has a better result at something that I work so hard at and they do not, it used to get to my head.............I would get all depressed and stress over the fact that i can not acheive results like some others. I think the worst is when you are told it is all down to energy in verses energy out and your calories expended on exercise alone is over 1000 calories and your intake for the day is 1400 calories, then being told you are not eating enough???? Well what is it??? BUT and this is a big BUT, is not the case this time................for some unknown reason, this little push to get my ball rolling is actually working and i think I have blogged this before, maybe it is because I have finally stopped feeling sorry for myself!

Motivation is a funny word as what is the motivation??? Am I motivated to exercise.............hell yes! Albeit i was not so into cardio, I was always into heavy weights. Fell in love with free weights about 8 years ago and have never looked back at that. But taking on "Michelangelo" at my gym, I think has changed a few things too. We do a lot of weights mixed with cardio, so in fact I have an elevated heart rate at all times...........lighter weights (for me) so many more reps and so little rest times. Snap, snap, snap..............

Food is an issue, being told quite often, you are not eating enough, you are eating too much, you should not eat this, you should eat this..................but I think if you can find something you are comfortable with and able to maintain at a longer period of time, just go with the flow. I have found this right little mix atm and I don't seem to be sick of it yet. I basically have the same thing day in day out except for dinner, that is decided on the day and what is in fridge at the time. I know some of you think you should have a variation to make sure you get enough of everything, but I can tell you the only things I am missing out on is not appropriate food to the weight loss goal! I have also gotten out of measuring food, becoming obsessed with how many calories I was eating............taking it back to just being consistant! Part of the challenge they give you a guideline of what to eat in foods, but I have modified it for me (I tend to think it does not allow for enough protein), and it has allowed me to be constant in maintaining my plan, to which I can proudly say I that I have only strayed from it twice (eaten off plan) and missed 5 meals and had 6 extra tidbits in the last 6 weeks. So something that is comfortable and enjoyable to eat. I do however write down everything that has passed my lips (including suppliments) only to show the trainer what my intake was for the day against what training I had done for the day. Part of his requirment.

So I have six weeks left of this challenge and hoping that I might have a decent result for the ending, but I have already made plans to keep on this path well after the challenge has finished. I expect this will not be a problem as I am not finding this difficult in anyway. I will say although, I am experiencing hungry feelings before each meal, more so in the morning than evening, so this is a good sign that the metabolism is working at its very best.

So today was supposed to hold a bike ride - about 21km and then 300 training but i was way too slack. I have been lying on the couch all afternoon catching up on blogs, posts on forums and facebook. i still have a shitload of clothes to wash and fold and then there is dinner............steak tonight i think! yummo!

Full week of training again on the cards with two killing sessions with 'Michelangelo'. Last week he killed me. But I am noticing changes in my abilities...........in pilates, my abdominals appear to be a little stronger, in balance I can twist and stretch a little further, cross training with him always seems more and more intense and cardio - there is more and more of it!

Well I have blabbed enough, so will be back soon.

have a great week with your endeavours and most of all enjoy yourself.

Ciao!

I am warrior!

2009-09-23T21:55:00.004+10:00

Spartan I am!

Well this week has been more than action packed. Monday started with spin class and massive triple ab sets. then Tuesday started with 45mins of interval cardio, followed by weights sessions. Massive boxing session in the afternoon then a beautiful chill in steam room.

This morning I arrived to be trained by 'Michelangelo' and discovered that I am doing the '300 Spartan training' session. Whoa, talk about a full on hard push. But absolutely loved it. Didn't think I would enjoy this type of training but killed. I think the fact that he was standing over me made a bigger difference. I can tell you that I will be very sore tomorrow morning. Tonight I went back for his pilates class and my abs are just dying! But I am getting stronger in them, just have to get rid of some boobs and belly and then it will be very easy! hehehe.

Now I have to do this '300' training twice a week, so next session is on Friday night, modified to suit me at home. Following is what I did at gym this morning.

25 pullups as fast as you can
50 deadlifts as fast as you can - olympic bar and 10kg each side.
50 pushups as fast as you can
50 box jumps as fast as you can
50 floor wipers as fast as you can
50 clean and press (dumbbell or kettle ball) as fast as you can
25 pullups as fast as you can.

My home version I do burpees instead of pullups.

So the rest of week is pretty crazy too, spin in the morning, super ab set, balance in afternoon, Friday 30 mins cardio interval, then 1 hour with Michelangelo, 300 training in afternoon, bootcamp on Saturday morning and then a massive long walk in afternoon. Oh Sunday has just got to be the day of sleep????????????????? and only to start all over again on Monday! loving it loving it loving it!

Ciao!

Shame on me for the neglect!

2009-09-19T20:58:00.002+10:00

I have so totally neglected my blog, so I am updating from my forum journal, so those of you have already read, it is only a repeat.

19 Sep 2009 09:01pm
Good evening.

Well I did say I would post results of my first four weeks of the Challenge.

I have lost 7 kilos, 25 cm all over and 18mm of body fat.

I was shy 1 kilo of my 4 week goal but everyone tells me I got to be happy with my results. You have to be happy with any results let alone the ones I just posted.

So game plan has picked up and new workout (blueprint plan) for the continuation of the construction of the Sistine Chapel!

So instead of following the set eating plan in the challenge manual, Michelangelo has tweaked it a little and I have a new plan stan! Pretty much the same as I have been following but a little tighter in a few places, much more stricter with supplements and protein allotments.

I have had a free day today, eating very clean until tonight, which was leftover satay that the boys had a couple of nights ago, and I couldn't finish it.

Back into it tomorrow with a boxing session and then a 30 min cycle (road or stationary) but at a level pace. Thinking about going into the gym to do it. My foot and leg has been throbbing from the walk on Friday afternoon, something not right. Am lying here typing with leg up higher than the heart to try and eliviate it.

Don't think I will be long out of bed as I had a pretty bad night sleep last night.

Oh yeah, I have some pretty major doms atm in my back, bis and tris! Wahoo!

Talk to you tomorrow.

Ciao

18 Sep 2009 09:51 pm
Okay,it is Friday night and I am lying on the couch with my feet up on a pillow, resting after a massive day! Phew!

So update..................thursday started with a spin class with Kiwi Craig and abs, then back that night with Body balance, managed the bird for a whole minute without falling over. Wahoo.

Woke up this morning and headed to gym at 5.00pm to cactch the 5.45am spin class. 45 mins later, legs were a little heavy, was a bit of a climbing session this one. 1/2 break, chuck a small protein shake and some musashi 'create' for recovery then the hour session with Michelangelo.......................whoa! That was a very very hard session but absolutely loved it. Finished with 10mins on rower, doing sprints and bettering each sprint, set a precedent for the next time we do them. Doh! silly me, now I have to keep digging deeper.................but all jokes aside, loving it! then lay in steam room for 30mins, raced home, shower, clean kitchen, try and sort out a work issue at home, hairdressers for a cut and lighten (summer days need a summer colour), walking around shops for 3 hours, then race home, basically throw groceries into fridge then off for a walk with puppies and friend around the hills of Ormeau.
Home again, legs are a little sore - walked at a very fast pace, so had a little soak in salt bath - want to try and avoid recovery swelling tomorrow. Have the official weigh in tomorrow. Speaking to 'Michelangelo' re where I want to be at the end of the 12 weeks (interesting that he wants exactly what I want????) and also where I want to be this time next year.............?

He asked if I was happy with the last 4 weeks and the results and I said that I was not going to put that on myself, just let it all happen, then I asked him if he was happy with the last 4 weeks and he was wrapped. Apparently he is really enjoying training me and loves my enthusiasm, especially when he sets a hard task. So now all that is left is the the first result tomorrow.

Well have a good weekend guys! Will advise tomorrow of results.

Ciao!

15 Sep 2009 10:23 PM

Whoops been a bit remiss here..............not been posting but a lot going on atm.

Well you know the old saying curiosity killed the cat, well being cocky and all that I jumped on scales Monday morning - not really thinking and they were up 2kg from over the weekend BUT...........its all good! I know this is probably recovery fluid I am holding as I really don't recover well after a very hard cardio session like Saturdays! What can I say, running for a complete hour is not my thang!!!.

So starting from Saturday, here is update.

Bootcamp was great except for all the running but I had Rae's voice in my head, "it is only ugly if you think it ugly", so taking her advice, I kept thinking how all the *beauutifuull* running is going to help me win the challenge. I did twist and hurt my knee however in the directional change running, no biggy, just need to nurse it a bit and wear an compression bandage when doing leg weights and boxing! So my bad was not eating enuf on Saturday - didn't put food into my mouth until about 2.30pm so totally screwed up my system for the day. Went to riverfire and had a picnic on top of the cliffs opposite the city with good friends and family, nibbled on lovely light healthy food like my homemade vietnamese spring rolls, some sushi, celery, tomato, olives etc etc etc I am sure you are getting the picture. Awesome vibrations through the body when the F1-11's flew over to start the fireworks and the dump and burn at the finish.

Sunday was a complete day of rest but didn't get enough water in.

So Monday was the cat killing day - serves me right for jumping on in the first place and was consequently chastised by Michelangelo this morning. Monday I did spin, abs and feeling generally flat all day! My first day of feeling so flat, I just couldn't drap myself to do some more cardio in the afternoon, but went to bed at 7.30pm instead. Did the trick, woke up Tuesday with heaps of energy. Tuesday brought 1 hour cardio in morning (rower 30min and spin bike 30min) then 1 hour of weights with the girls. Back to boxing in afternoon for an hour (fastest boxing session yet) and another 25 mins in steam room for recovery. This morning was sesh day with Michelangelo and we did some serious supasetting once again. Clean and jerks - 15 reps - 5 sets - medium weight, then shoulder press and single leg press - 15 reps - 5 sets. finished with single leg ext with pulse squats just to burn out the quads (and they were burning!!!!!!!!!!) 15 reps - 5 sets. Then a nice medium pace cooldown on treaddy for 10 mins.

Food has been spectacularly spot on for the last week with the exception of Saturday, when I did not eat.

So a long week ahead, lots of work and I have Friday off. But I have another sesh with Michelangelo then so I think I might reward myself with another session in the steam room, I am sure he is going to really stick it to me as we have our first official weigh in on Saturday. Fingers crossed.

have a great peepers!

Ciao!

11 Sep 2009 08:55 aM
Ruh oh, it is 'working my butt off time' *insert evil music here*!

Time to go and face the trainers (including Michelangelo) at the Challenge bootcamp. Don't know if it sucks having your trainer part of the task masters or a blessing as you know he will push you harder!

okay, now get up and go! *mini voice saying.............I'm scared, can't I just sleep in*!

OUT!

11 Sep 2009 03:03 AM
Woot!

Day 21 and i can still count on one hand the very minor slip ups from eating plan.

2 coke zero's
2 glasses of red wine (120ml each)
1 tablespoon peanut butter
3 jatz bikkies and 20gms of cheese (yesterday after I gave blood, they would not let me go unless I ate something - choice was jatz and cheese, chocolate, fruit juice! Savoury person so what would I go for!!!!

So leg day this morning and man did I suffer big time - 15 mins cardio on xtrainer, then leg press supaset jump squats, triset ext, curls and deep long walking lunges then15 min rower. Down the aminos and I am feeling 110% (legs are a little tight though)

I couldn't resist myself this morning and jumped on my scales at home as I actually have 1 week left before my official first measure day and woot woo! holy cow! another nice drop. So I promptly texted 'Michelangelo' and said can you please please please make sure I keep up the intensity of my training. I am loving the results

I think the part that is truly amazing me (and I have posted this many times so far) is the diligence I seem to have in keeping my eating so so so clean and to the planned letter. As mentioned before the above list is exactly what I have eaten/drunk that is not on plan!

Go me!

Ciao!

0 Sep 2009 02:37 AM
BOY! was it hard climbing those stairs to the gym this morning!!!

I did pilates last night and we worked on abdominals, hamstrings and hip flexors! There were these 2 crazy leg exercises that created such a burn, it felt like someone had lit a fire under my legs.

Then this morning walking up the stairs to the gym, I really had a hard time lifting the legs up, only to jump on a bike and spin for 45 mins. But I will say they loosened up after a 8min and 30 second standing hill climb at 75% resistance! Phew, I would call that riding up Mt Kosiosko!

Went and gave blood just before (AB+). My once every three month good samaritan work is done!

Currently chowing down on 200gm green beans raw and 120gm of chicken breast steamed with chilli!

Got 30mins cardio this afternoon and then Balance..............ahh looking forward to the bird in the balance track! Catch you all on the flip side.

Ciao! Have a great day!

09 Sep 2009 10:49 AM
Well back home again after going to gym again after work. Did 30 mins cardio on xtrainer alternating high level and low levels. then did pilates with Mr 'Michelangelo'! My butt! I reckon I am going to have buns of steel by the time this challenge is over.

Quick dinner of steamed barramundi and broccoli! yummo.

Well best be getting my clothes ready and food packed for tomorrow. Got a spin class, abs and then cardio at night and Body Balance.

Have a great night!

08 Sep 2009 10:03 PM
Update

Well another 2 days down and still 100% clean eating..........on a roll!

Monday saw me doing a spin class and some abs, but nothing at night, my parents are up from Tenterfield visiting - sister in trouble again up at Noosa - gone to bail her out once again.

Yesterday was a big day with 1 hour cardio before an hour of weights, then a big big boxing session with more abs and then my weekly relax in the steam room! 25 mins I lasted, really would like to take it 30 mins on average. That last 5 mins is really sticky and I start to feel slightly nauseated. Then jump in freezing cold shower for 5 mins and done for the day. I have noticed on a Tuesday i really sleep soundly, don't hear anything until it is just before my alarm goes off, I seem to wake up.

This morning was another session with "Michelangelo" and we did arms.....arms......arms.....arms. I can already start to feel my arms being heavy while I am typing this. This afternoon I have 30 min cardio then 'michelangelo's' pilates class. Another caining on the abs.

I was talking about what is different for me this time around with sticking to clean eating and dedication to my eating plan, with my friends yesterday morning and my smart friend promptly announces - "it is because you have finally stopped feeling sorry for yourself". You know what, I am incline to the think the same way now..........after digesting that comment, it really shocked me to hear that is what has been noticed about me. I never in my wildest thoughts ever thought I was feeling sorry for myself, but I can actually see it now. How good is it to see something you have never noticed before!

I have had a few comments at the gym regarding slight changes in my looks and this is pumping my ego a little. But I am a little scared in becoming complacent with everything if I start getting too many comments. Something I am going to have to work on. No I am determined to keep on this current track. I am just loving it at the moment and even have massive amounts of energy. Funny my body feels like it has a lot of energy but sometimes my legs are so so so so sluggish. Well got to go, so talk to you all soon.

Have a great day.

Ciao

05 Sep 2009 05:18 AM
righto then!

have accomplished nearly all of the set tasks for the week. Managed another intense hour of boxing with friend at her gym. It has some excellant Hammer equipment, shame we don't have some of that at our gym.................but the grass always seems greener on the other side. I will admit, my gym has much more free weight equipment, which is more my favourite type of exercise anyway.

Now I have only 2 more set tasks to do. a 60 min walk which I will leave till tomorro morning when I walk down to get the morning paper from the shops and 1 hour of my choice in cardio. Unsure what I am going to pick there. Maybe a bike ride around. There is always the spin bike infront of a 'chick flick' that would certainly pass the time away! hehehehe.

Well might just lay down and have a little catnap.

Enjoy your weekend lovelies.

Ciao!

04 Sep 2009 12:46 AM

Hey hey

I can't believe a whole week has just flown by. so many things have happened.

And no before any conclusions are jumped, I am still strong with my challenge - 14 days now and not one deviaton from food plan! Woo Hoo!

May as well get sad news over with first. We had to let our darling 15 year staffy go to sleep forever on Wednesday and still pretty sad for me atm. Tears are just welling up while I am typing it. We knew it would be soon as he was suffering with cancers and tumors and even though you are prepared for it, it is still pretty hard. I think what shook me the most was the little puppy we have (yes another staffy) sat on the burial mound for 2 hours, that just broke my heart. Was cuddling little Diesel last night and he seems so sad, so very quiet - normally he wants to play! Okay eyes are wiped, time for an update on the challenge.

I have been soooooooooo flat out! I am averaging 2 and a bit hours of exercise a day, a variety of things, and finding this actually quite rewarding - go figure. As stated above my food has been 100% clean and strictly to the plan........and that my dears is absolutely amazing!

So Monday started with a spin class and abs, afternoon a major HIIT sesh with boxing 3 mins, skipping 3 mins and then 20-25 tricep pushups. This was repeated 5 rounds.

Tuesday weight sesh with girlfriends then boxing in afternoon and that all so glorious 30min sauna/steam room session!

Wednesday - well it was Michelangelo's time to torture me and that he succeed quite well at. Even he had a chuckle because he killed me...........evil man I tell you........but still good eye candy!!!!! That afternoon, as though I didn't have enuf torture from this man, I had to do his pilates class. So Funny, I arrived at the gym with about 10mins spare before the class and there was a massive line up of all these little teeny boppers!!!! And all through class, there was some giggling.................all there to see my Michelangelo in is his tight little white singlet! hubba hubba. LMAO! Boy am I going to give him a hard time next wednesday............oooh maybe not, it could only backfire on me right????? Back to pilates..............I died! 45 mins of abdominal workouts and 15 mins of glutes.......I walked out of there saying " my legs, my legs, I can't feel my legs"! Part of the morning sesh with the master, was these absolutly killer hamstring exercises.

Thursday was spin in morning along with abs (you would think I have had enuf of these but no they are on the plan so I must follow) then in the afternoon it was Balance time! Ahhh the stretch, loving it!

This morning was crazy leg day, same as last week and do you think my legs wanted to work properly. It actually took the 15 mins of cardio on xtrainer first up to get them moving right, then when I got the walking lunges..............OMGosh!

So I still have a boxing session, a 60min walk and an hour of cardio of my choice still to do! Someone pick me up off the floor. But hey, we had a preliminary check on scales this morning and I gotta say I was more than impressed! A nice big drop which helped me, I was so anxious that I would get my normal readings - which normally is not a lot. It has now geared me for the next two weeks towards the official 4 week weigh and measure. Be interesting to see what body fat % has dropped! hmmmm.

So that is it in a nut shell and I am so looking forward to sunday - the day of rest and sleep in. But I was thinking about taking my bike down the coast, and riding from the spit down to burleigh and back. Such a beautiful weekend weather wise, would be a shame to waste it and what a beautiful ride it would be along the coast.

well best be getting back to work!

Ciao!

28 Aug 2009 11:06 AM
OMgosh, thanks Lia.............luv my goldi's.

Update time.

Well another tick in the box for today..........a clean eating day and massive session with weights and cardio.

Well this morning was another killer leg session starting with xtrainer warm up on level 8, maintain 70rpm (more like a friggin sprint), then leg press supaset with jump squats 15 x 3, shoulder press supaset barbell curl 15 x 3, triset of leg ext, leg curl and weighted walking lunges 15 x 3, triset movement on abs - ab crunches, knee raises and crunches with knees up 25 x 3. I think I may have justpulled a small muscle in the side of my back as I have a little niggle, but I think that a good night sleep will fix that too.

Just come home from going out to dinner at the local pub (gotta love this local) asked for grilled steak 120gms and large salad with no dressing - exactly what I got! Loving the fact that I can go out to have dinner and do not even deviate 1 bit from the plan..............really helps that the local pub is vey good at your requests.

So plan for tomorro is walking around the hills of Ormeau with friend and dogs - this usually takes an hour and then i have this huge session instructed to me on my "Sistine Chapel Blue Print" of boxing on bag, skipping, pushups, jump squats, mountain climbers for 5 rounds - 2 mins each item. Well you gotta do what you gotta do! Looking forward to sunday..............have been told to do nothing!

Well I hope you all have a great weekend, no doubt I will keep you posted as per the norm.

Ciao!

ey hey UPdate time

Well today started with abs and a great heavy spin class. Come away from the spin class on a high and the energy levels stayed with me all day. Wahoo!

Finished off tonite with the new launch of the new body balance and loving it. It is tuff but very smooth and slow, so you really work hard. I had so much sweat dripping off me, it was not funny.

LiaI have to tell you i am still earning my gold star. Day 6 on the regimented eating and not one stray or piciking! Smokin baby!

Okay the auditors have not been so bad this week, mind you I say this with tongue in cheek.

Tomorrow is going to be very hard. I have some serious leg workout in the morning and then boxing again tomorrow night.

I will let you know how I fee.

xxCiao
xxDori

25 Aug 2009 11:45 PM
Okay update time.......................

OOOOwwwwww! There I think that says a lot..........hehehehe.

Okay tell me someone, which devil demi god created burpees and mountain climbers!!!!!!!!!!!! huh whaat on earth were they thinking!

Training Tuesday morning was great - really felt my delts though. then boxing in the afternoon which I ran out of puff about 2/3's in, lucky I have an exceptional boxing partner who pushed me on. Best part was sitting in the steam room for 20mins afterwards.............you know I doubted it but now proven - saunas do help with recovery! I was up with god knows what owls this morning at 4.00am waiting for my 'construction session with Michelangelo'. Should hav stayed in bed............nuh just joshing! I feel pretty fantastic atm but very sore at the same time. What a full on session. Burpees supaset with Arnold presses, hack squats supasets with step ups, running up and down board supa set with mountian climbers! Pilates on tonight (again with McDreamy Michelangelo)!(shhhh don't tell his girlfriend I said that) hehehehehe. Funny, how stupid does this sound, he is killing me but who cares, he is great to look at! LMAO

So on the food front, I so deserve that gold star! OMgosh, I can not believe how regimented I have been so far.........................pinch me, am I awake???? Whats going on...........????

Okay best be getting back to work, will catch up soon - tad busy - auditors are still here.

Ciao!

have a fabuloso day guys!

Update time

Well I have amazingly sore delts from boxing on Sunday oh yeah not to mention my obliques!!! Obviously I worked harder than normal.....wahoo! Yesterday I had a triset on my legs, leg ext, leg curl and weighted walking lunges. Then a supaset of shoulder press and ba'rbell bicep curl - then some abba dabba's (which I forgot to do) cardio 15mins on xtrainer before and 15 mins rower after. Put 110% effort into it and consequently I was feeling a little jaded by the time I got home last night - both physically and mentally...........remember those pesky auditors! hahahaha

Caught up with my abba dabba's last night, although it was a piss poor effort and believe it or not, I was in bed fast asleep by 7.00pm. Slept like a baby.

Food is very restricted atm and have stuck to it like glue..........but had the nasty "you are hungry" around 3.00pm yesterday, after meal 4..........drank 750mls of water with a bit of diet lime cordial in it and after about 1/2 an hour it went away. So all good. I was almost thinking I need to "phone a friend" to get me through it. but then I was struck with a nasty headache after that, didn't seem to dispate at all. So I am very happy with the first 3 days of challenge, especially not picking while cooking other meals for the boys. and I have not had the need to 'refeed'.

Well I had better get organised to go to gym, it is my later start day, the day I socialise and train with a couple of friends. going to be a long day today, as I have boxing this afternoon and then I have my first seminar to attend for the 12 week challenge. We get marked on how many we attend and a percentage of the mark goes towards the winning points. So it is off to be a good attendee, I want to win this.

Another scorcher here again, hopefully not too many bush fires............idots who throw cigarette butts out of windows!!!!!!!! Hope you all have a fantastic day.

Ciao Monte Bellas!
xxDori

23 Aug 2009 09:50 AM
Okay lets try this again!

So last week was a horror week at work but a great week training. This week for work is going to be a bit testing too, with auditors in, but hey they have to abide by our work times, the rules are set.

But arhhhh the 12 week challenge has officially started. Weigh in was on Saturday and I must admit I was a little disappointed with 'Michelangelo', I mean I was waiting for my game plan from him but he seemed to be more interested in training himself. So I sent him a email asking what is my game plan and that he needs to show me that he is wanting to win as much as me...............ie show me the love..........ie get into it with me. Do you think that was a bit harsh????????

So yesterday was exercise free but sure made up for it today. Had an awesome boxing session with a friend at her house. My upper back and rear delts are very tight. Luv it.

So game on and let the cardio and soreness begin. I have planned to do a spin class in morning. Talking to my friend today, and we agree that probably the best thing to do is mostly cardo at this point, maintaining my amino acids and ensuring the macro nutrients are clean. I cut, cooked and batched up 5 breakfasts, 4 morning snacks, 3 afternoon snacks and 4 lunches.

So easy going in the morning - wake up 4.00pm, pack bags, go to gym, walk up and down stairs for 1/2 hour before gym opens and then do a spin class.

Well I had better go get my clothes together and I am rather sleepy. so nighty night!

Ciao

My Feelings!

2009-09-09T20:52:00.000+10:00

Long overdue post

2009-09-06T18:58:00.004+10:00

Hey hey

a long overdue post. I have been rather busy of late. Started the Goodlife 12 Week Challenge 15 days ago and am extremely happy to say that last night was my first off plan meal and in that the only thing that was off plan was 2 very small glasses of wine. I am so overwhelmed at my diligence, that I am still in shock that I am acheiving this.

Training has been above and beyond. But the best is, I am loving it! When I saw my schedule I almost died in shock. The first week I did 3/4 of the list, missing only 2 planned exercises and last week I managed all the of the schedule tasks! Woot woot! And I truly believe that a devil god created burpees and mountain climbers!!!!!

So we did a preliminary weigh in on Friday and to say that I was so pleasantly surprised. I had a quite a considerable drop - almost too good to be true, but I am going to take it, I worked very hard for it!

I have been very busy at work as well, but hoping that I will be able to post more updates here over the next ten weeks. So I have to go now but will be back real soon.

Ciao!

Some facts

2009-08-23T14:52:00.002+10:00

Stole this from Friday, luv it

LAYER 1: Tell us your...

* Name: Doris
* Birthday (month, day): January 31
* Birthplace: Geelong, Victoria
* Current location: Logan Village, Queensland
* Eye color: Hazel
* Hair color: Mousy Brown
* Height: 5ft 2’
* Righty or lefty: Right handed
* Zodiac sign: Aquarius.................yeah chill babe

LAYER 2: What's...

* Your heritage: Mother and Father German
* The shoes you wore today: Asics - did an awesome boxing session this morning
* Your weakness: I have no self confidence
* Your fears: Not overcoming my insecurities
* Your perfect pizza: 3 cheeses like the one I tasted in Rome,Italy.Nothing beats it!
* Goals you’d like to achieve: I would like to compete once in a physique competition
* Your first waking thoughts: Gym
* Your best physical feature: None
* Your most missed memory: Holiday in Europe

LAYER 3: Do you...

* Smoke: No
* Cuss: Yes
* Sing: Yes
* Do you think you’ve been in love: NO
* Did you go to college: Ye
* Liked high school: Was Okay
* Want to get/stay married: Never, but I did to please the parents
* Believe in yourself: I try to, but often not
* Think you’re attractive: No
* Think you’re a health freak: I'd like to think I am
* Get along with your parent(s): I don’t really get on with them but working on it.
* Like thunderstorms: fun except when camping
* Play an instrument: I used to play the flute and tried to learn guitar

LAYER 4: In the past month have you…

* Drank alcohol: Once
* Smoked: No
* Done a drug: daily: No
* Made out: No
* Gone on a date: No
* Gone to the mall: No
* Eaten an entire box of Oreos: Eeeewwww yuk.. I agree
* Eaten sushi: Yes
* Been on stage: No
* Been dumped: No
* Gone skating: No.
* Gone skinny dipping: Not in the last month..
* Stolen Anything: No

LAYER 5: Have you ever…

* Played a game that required removal of clothing: Yes
* Been trashed or extremely intoxicated: Isn't that part of learning of life??
* Been caught “doing something": Yes
* Been called a tease: Yes
* Shoplifted: Yes

LAYER 6:

* Age you did get/hope to be married: 23
* Numbers and names of children (either you have or want): Christopher
*Describe your dream mate: Vin Diesel
* How do you want to die: quickly
* What did you want to be when you grow up: Botanist
* Which country would you most like to visit: Greece

LAYER 7: Now tell...

* Name a drug you’ve taken illegally: Marajuana
* Name a person you could trust with your life: Chris/Sabine
* Name a favorite CD that you own: Nick Skitz
* Number of piercings: 5
* Number of tattoos: 1
* Number of times my name has appeared in the newspaper: Don't know
* Name a past experience that you regret: The night I lost my virginity! You asked!

OMG! What a 'Rockstar' Love the routine

2009-08-17T20:07:00.002+10:00

First brush stroke with Michelangelo!

2009-08-12T08:32:00.003+10:00

Well first training session with "Michelangelo" and man I am sore already. Totally different style of training - trying to totally confuse my body. As I am so used to cardio (just cardio) and weights (heavy weights), he has combined the two with a more aerobic weights sessions. So I am in aerobic phase for 1 whole hour. Lots of sets, lower weights - trisets, supasets, and drop sets! Then intervals incorporated at the same time. A real mix up of things..............very different. Will be interesting. Lets just say my heart was in my mouth most of the time...........but I am sure this will get easier as the weeks move on.

But on the sore side, I am already sore from what I have been doing the last 3 days, boxing last night was a killer sessions - lots of massive hits, abs, jump squats and split squats. I don't think I am looking forward to tomorrow. But in saying that, I do have today to have a couple naps throughout if I wish.

Short post, enjoy your day. Hey where is the sunshine............supposed to be 25 day????

Sore Butt!

2009-08-11T12:40:00.003+10:00

Sore Hammis and glutes!

Well I guess that what bending, lifting, carting will do to you. Sunday morning I spent in the glorious sunshine of Queensland, potting and re-potting my herbs, orchids and bromeliads! I got so carried away 4 hours just passed like that. One minute I was having breakfast, then next thing I knew it was 2.00pm and I had missed 2 meals…………Doh! But right now I have happy herb plants, orchids and bromeliads……………….. Then to top it off, I did sprints/walk up and down my driveway last night (gym closed due to public holiday in that area) for 30mins. Driveway as a very slight incline, but more challenging is running in the dark on very uneven gravel and road. Certainly worked those ankle stabilizers.

Well since signing up for the 12 Week Challenge, I seem to be having unbelievable will power! I am even shocking myself!!!!!! What makes this decision so different from any others that I have made and why is it easy to keep on the straight and narrow?? Is the external stimulus of taking action after being offered an incentive to win – am I that competitive?, is it the positive attitude, or is it …………………..? Maybe I felt stuck and didn’t want admit defeat, and the age old saying goes, to achieve anything worthwhile in life, it takes one more step, another repeated or different action and a single day at a time. I cannot afford to give up on my dreams and have decided that I have push and be harder on myself .

So here are some tips I stole from a motivation website to make sure that I keep on the current track I am on:
· Become more aware.
Do some serious thinking and analyze thoroughly before giving up. You need to become aware of what is standing in your way. For all you know, you might have allowed yourself to major in minor things.
· Learn to ask.
Learn to ask for what you want and seek for answers. You have to pause and listen. Your brain and your soul will give you the answers that you need.
· Write them down.
Write down your thoughts, activities, emotions and experiences. Make use of your writings to examine your life. Question them, learn from the mistakes and repeat your success.
· Make use of your mental images to invent something different.
Imagine where you want to be and what you wish to become. Make use of your creative imagination to design your future. Repeat the imagination exercise to enable you to push out self-defeating thoughts.
· Retrain yourself to think positive.
Look at the possibilities. Affirm to yourself that whatever it is that is against you is a challenge for you to stay strong. Your doubts and fears could arise from your lack of knowledge and skill. Get hold of that so that you can refocus and not abandon your dreams.
· Work harder than you ever did before.
You should work harder by taking more actions and doing things that will bring you closer to your goals. Refuse to surrender until you have done all that you can.
· Think about what you want and keep thinking about it.
To keep from giving up, stop thinking about it. You have to gain control of your thoughts because they produce the actions that you are going to take. Why focus on things that might end your dream?

Okay, so have done an awesome chest and tri workout this morning with Elsabe...........something very different for her, made her work harder than normal.....hehehehe and this afternoon we have a boxing session! Looking forward to that - hopefully no running, but you know what i am going to scratch that, running is my friend, i need to have running in my life. i am sure if I say this often enough, it will excite me! hhmmmmmm..... yeah right! Whoops what was I saying above - retrain thinking into positive thoughts...............running is my friend!. going to have an interesting morning tomorrow morning as it is the first training session with 'Michelangelo'! Be interesting to see his training style and no, I won't compare it to others, as each coach and trainer is different from the other. I still have my 'Coach' and can't wait until I start training back with her. But first 12 week Challenge and a win and then onto bigger things. Wish me luck.........funny if he works me to the point of vomit, at least I have all day to sleep it off........maybe lie in the sun and catch some rays.

Well best be off, enjoy your day.

Ciao!

For Steph

2009-08-09T09:08:00.002+10:00

Hey Steph

this is my take of a cauliflower pizza crust

steam or bake cauliflower - do not boil - adds too much liquid to cauli. Blend 1 egg white, 50gm oats and 200gms cauli to make a dough. Press out on pizza tray and bake for about 15 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 10-20mins to solidify the base.

Top with toppings and then grill the pizza - I found if you put bake into oven the base goes soft again, where as grilling melts the toppings but leaves the base a little harder. your toppings are your choice of course. My favourite isLayered 30gms grated mozzerella cheese, tomato slices, onion slices, olives, sweet basil leaves and fetta crumbled on top. Grilled for about 10 mins. mmmmmm Some attempts have been a bit soggy, but still taste pretty fantastic.

I should start taking photos of my food, so I can show you what it looks like.

Ciao!

A blank canvas??

2009-08-05T13:46:00.002+10:00

Hey hey

Okay the whole “12 week Challenge” idea has settled in now and have started making plans. Unfortunately the one thing about doing the challenge with the gym, you have to take on one of the trainers at the gym, so I have chosen one. A young English male PT - Sean (who mind you is not bad to look at – so no complaints actually) who claims that I will have the added bonus of pure untainted English blood in him, unlike those here with ‘convict’ blood and that he is Michelangelo and of course I am the Sistine Chapel. LMAO! Now I have been to the Sistine Chapel and have a blurry photo to prove it (after the Italian guard yelling at me “NO PHOTOS” hehehehe) and found it quite awe inspiring……..so I started dreaming last night – I was awe inspiring! Positive thoughts created a positive emotion and I am absolutely raring to go……….lets get started already!!!!! Not that I have already been doing my thang………you know watching what I eat, eating 5 meals a day, getting my quota of carbohydrates and green veges (LOL – I think I am a green vege tank – gas included………phew!!!) and most importantly protein.

So the last month or two has been pretty good and I am starting to get small changes in my clothes. As part of my mini goals week to week, this weeks goal is increasing my cardio time – to get back that cardio fitness I used to have. Boy what a struggle when you stop or slow it down. I did boxing last night and 2/3rds way in, I was started to feel peetered and drained of energy, and my fantastic partner bucked me right up…….she pushed and spurred me on to give the last 3rd 250%. I think this is the first time in a very long time that I have been sore the next day from boxing – everything is just aching! Fantastic. And you know what I feel so great for the fact that I pushed through the barrier and took it to the next level, so with that in mind, I am having an absolute feel good day! Woot woo!

I guess I am having a ‘feel good day’, which usually is on a Friday.

I hope you all are having the same feel good day! I wish that upon you all.

Ciao!

Energy in Motion

2009-08-04T12:22:00.002+10:00

Whoops! Haven’t blogged in a week…………

So what is new since last post. Well life is still pretty great, cycles are back to normal at the moment, which in turn also has keep emotions normal. I read an article about emotions being fascinating. I don’t know who the author is but I will script some of their words. “E-motion, or Energy put into motion. That is what our emotions do. They move energy and bring things into motion, or…….manifestation. The force behind what we feel is what allows us to create. First we have our thoughts, or perceptions. But it is the emotional energy, the fuel, that allows something to get created.”

So now I am looking at emotion in a different light…………an energy source that creates an action, be it a bad action or a good action. If you don’t like the emotion that you are feeling, think of a different outcome and hopefully a different emotion will follow (one for the best presumably) Take responsibility : to realize that it is you and no one else that creates your thoughts, your feelings and most of all……………your actions. Have you ever thought about what you value in life? Being true to yourself is being clear about what you value in life! You are responsible for your choices, decisions and actions. Don’t give energy to the negative thoughts!

What have been my choices, decisions and actions of late…………oh yeah, I have committed to my gym’s 12 week challenge! Arghhh! Okay okay…. Positive thoughts, create that positive emotion! Hmmmmmm ……. Let me see……hmmmm…. Nope still scared! Got caught in a weak moment and signed the dotted line. Well now that I have done it, I may as well have a bloody good go at it, so I am up for a very strict, very tiring and very sore 12 weeks ahead of me. It starts on the 24th August. Here is my committed oath “No one can stop me from getting that fabulous body and good health except me!” Time for me to be responsible! Remember, the mind is always in charge! Get motivated. I know you can do it and now is the time to prove it to yourself ! Time to win!

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out” Robert Collier

“Keep your eye on the prize. Your goals are like directions to your destination, you have to first plan them out in your mind and then put yourself in drive and don’t take your foot off the gas until you get there” Tony Catanzaro

Ciao!

How good is the world!

2009-07-27T19:54:00.003+10:00

What a fantastic place we live in! Don't you agree?

On a bit of a high atm.................what can I say! I know what was wrong with me last week and now fixed! check!
Had a phat time last night at the concert of what I think is one the best performers yet! P!nk. Check!
Spent the night with good friends! Check!
Got this Thursday off work! Check!
Full of energy! Check!
Monthly cycle is back to normal! Check!

Righto, lets go! So how was everyone elses weekend?? as you know mine was pretty great. First weight session tomorrow after a week off with the 'parasite'! Yep that was what was wrong with me.............I apparently had a parasite in my gut. Where do you get that you ask.........don't worry I asked that too. Dirty food to be exact. I had had suffered from something similar about 12 years ago, but every since then I do not eat anything I buy before washing it, so what went wrong this time......................I ate someone elses food! Cherries to be exact! New thing I learnt, don't trust that all food is clean, irregardless of where you. But the hardest thing, how do you check without being rude???

Be interesting to see how my strength has improved with one week off. Or not? hehehe but with me usually I do have strength gains after time off. Back and shoulders tomorrow, legs wednesday, legs, abs and biceps Thursday and chest and triceps on Friday.

Nothing much else to talk about atm, very tired after such a late nite last night,so its byby and see you tomorrow.

Ciao!

Remember the Journey!

2009-07-21T10:45:00.001+10:00

We often tend to label ourselves in a negative way, particularly with regard to losing weight…………..you know, the ones like ‘failure’, ‘unsuccessful’, ‘no determination’, ‘what’s wrong with me’! Especially when you put a massive effort in, your motivation is at an all time high and your expectations of course is at an all time high! But all too often we forget to look at that journey to the point where we start to have that change from a positive to a negative. I mean, look at the exercise choices you made while you were at your peak in motivation, look at your food choices and most of all look at your head space………….it was good wasn’t it. Then when that all too expected results does not happen, we start to beat ourselves up! Well I have decided that beating yourself up keeps you trapped, stagnant – well think about it, you get excited with the oncoming result then the result doesn’t happen but it is so close or you had a reversal. You talk yourself into being a failure and you start rehashing your last week of all the good things, trying to find out where you went wrong, questioning “what’s wrong with me!”. Well guess what! You didn’t go wrong!

So what now……………keep going! Your expected results is now just a day behind, your in front! The result is the loser, not you. It is the one lagging behind! Here’s an age old saying that makes sense………”just relax and be patient, Rome was not built in a day”. We really need to start praising ourselves for the effort we put in rather than the result we get from that effort. The thing to do is look at the result as “Collateral Damage”. To look at it differently and call results collateral damage might work if you only recognize the effort and choices you put into your goal. Realistically, that is what gets us to where we want to go ultimately. The journey! The only way to get to RESULTS is to take the JOURNEY!

Ciao!

Nothing is impossible

2009-07-20T14:32:00.002+10:00

So how was your weekend???

What can I say about mine???????? I am feeling a little funny today, but a good funny. Its hard to explain………….I feel happy, excited, tired, energetic, elated, flat and eager all in one go? What’s with that??

I have had some pretty good days training since I last posted. Well we all know about the major DOMS from legs, then the next day I smashed out a fantastic new PB in Chest Bench, only to jump up excited punching the air and then it hit me……………..oh shit, I need to go up in weights. Needless to say, the weight is already quite heavy!!!! Oh well always great to improve, but I need to do it slowly, as you can always get stronger muscles quicker but your tendons often are left behind, and you will struggle with them………so next week I will pump out my second set at the heaviest weight for as many reps as I can. Can’t get too strong too quick!.

I have been talking to some pretty inspirational ladies of late, not to mention those who are on forums and have blogs. This has pushed my energy levels as well and like some previous posts ago, something has just gone SNAP! All just clicked into place. Maybe because I am not stressing over it, just going along for the ride. While a passing chat with a brilliant mind on Saturday, I came to some realisations that the choice is always mine, like an incident with dinner in the beginning of the week. Long story short – had a dish, asked if it was fresh, came out to table different than when told at ordering. Ate it anyway but when reflecting on it, I could have changed the result slightly and would have had better of for it, eating the same dish. So now with this being discuss, I have taken on food purchased outside of the home in a different perspective and will embrace it, rather than obsess over it! Phew, it was like a ton of food issues just gone from my head! Wahoo! Everyday is a choice, a choice for us to make. The discussion finished with that if I feel a deep passion for something enough and I can create focus, commitment and perseverance, anything can be accomplished and my so called “impossible BEHAG” dream can become very real indeed.

I came across this quote and just love it. I don’t know who the author is?? Anyone know?? I do know that is was a very successful ad campaign for Adidas with Mahumod Ali and many other famous athletes (just Ali stays in my mind).

Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.

With that I will leave!

Ciao!

Train like a beast!

2009-07-15T22:18:00.004+10:00

Yep that was me today......................the legs! Super heavy squats(100kg), Dumbell weighted lunges (12.5kg) off bosu ball supaset with supa heavy deadlifts(80kg), finish off with single leg 45deg pushes(120kg). Then on tready for an hour hike at a very steady pace, then stretched it out in body balance! Then tonight walked for miles for dinner and now I am sitting here thinking I am going to have some pretty serious DOMS. Someone have a spare hanky?????

How good did it feel to have today off work and spend 3 hours at the gym.............awesome. then caught up with a special friend and had a nice chicken salad for lunch, home to wait for aunts to arrive from Melbourne, drive over to Redcliffe from Logan Village, have dinner, a walk, a chat, a coffee and little bit of cake (1 slice shared amoungst 3), chatted up a very cute greek boy - could almost turn me into a 'cougar' but way too young. more walk then drive home to find Qld lost football...................shame I was really hoping for a whitewash!

Need to go and prepare my meals for tomorrow. Talk soon.

Ciao!

Have you ever................

2009-07-14T21:27:00.003+10:00

Have you ever had something just go snap? I am talking about things just falling into place. Well atm the food has just fallen into place. Talk about getting it right. Tonite as an example I had turkey breast strips, stir fried with green beans with mandarin juice and greek herbs with rosemary. Very yum.

Had a good day gym time - a nice hard session with weights - back and shoulders then an awesome session boxing. Total shoulder conditioning. I have ordered myself a punching bag that should get here in a couple of weeks, this will be great on weekends, do a bit of a round or two with the bag. Can't wait.

tomorrow I have off as my aunts are visiting from Melbourne and want to catch up..............they are a bit of work but harmless enough. I haven't seen them for such a long while. They are 5 & 8 years older than me, so more along my age group rather than my mothers. hehehehe. Most annoying thing is I miss State of Origin tomorrow night, would be good to see a total white wash by the Queenslanders. My son is lucky, he is actually going to the game. Anyways, they wont hit Brisbane until lunch, so I am going to have a good 3 hours at the gym..........1 hour walking, 1 hour weights - probably legs and then an hour of body balance to stretch it all out. Then off to meet the relis...............

Well I best go now and get some beauty sleep. hehehehe

Ciao!

All Fired UP

2009-07-13T18:22:00.003+10:00

Livin with my eyes closed,
goin day to day
I never knew the difference,
I never cared either way
Lookin for a reason,
searchin for a sign
Reachin out with both hands,
I gotta feel the kick inside

All fired up
Now I believe there comes a time
All fired up
When everything just falls in line
All fired up
We live an learn from our mistakes
All fired up, fired up, fired up - hey

Aint nobody livin,
in a perfect world
Everybodys out there,
cryin to be heard
Now I got a new fire,
burnin in my eyes
Lightin up the darkness,
movin like a meteorite

All fired up
Now I believe there comes a time
All fired up
When everything just falls in line
All fired up

We live an learn from our mistakes
All fired up, fired up, fired up
The deepest cuts are healed by faith
Now I believe there comes a time
When everything just falls in line

We live an learn from our mistakes
The deepest cuts are healed by faith
Now I believe there comes a time
When everything just falls in line

We live an learn from our mistakes
The deepest cuts are healed by faith
Now I believe there comes a time
When everything just falls in line

We live an learn from our mistakes
The deepest cuts are healed by faith
Now I believe there comes a time
When everything just falls in line

We live an learn from our mistakes
The deepest cuts are healed by faith
Now I believe

Anyone who was a pub crawler in the eighties would know this one! I was thinking about my postings today and driving home this song came on the radio. Well I cranked it and sang it as loud as I could. Talk about firing me up.

Sweeet!

How hungry do you get for it?

2009-07-13T15:28:00.003+10:00

So what makes that dedication an all time consuming hunger for you??? In my mind I go through pictures of myself, of what I would look like, the finished product. But what keeps that picture alive in the waking hours of the day, the day where you start off great, but somehow gets lost by the end of it!!!

Now I have announced that I am trying to work my way back from the Abyss, stepping around the edge, toying with the ability to stay out or fall back in.. What is it that makes this all seem so hard. I should be so motivated and yet I don’t appear to be. If only we knew how the inner functions of the brain work? To remember to flick that switch on and keep it on!

So today the food has been of good quality and equal proportions (you would be proud of how many veges I am getting in Liz), I have eaten 3 meals so far today and I am soooooooo full! But I know the answer to that. I have slowly dwindle my food intake over the last 6 weeks, that I was not eating enuf and then having a binge on something totally wrong. So I have to now teach this body once again to accept good whole food, at set times – all the while making sure I get the correct macros in at the right times. Back to feeling sooooooo full. This too will pass, as my body starts getting used to eating again, it will start looking for the food required at the set times. All a matter to flicking the switch on and keeping it on.

Looking at the girls who competed this weekend and they all looked sooooo hot, I want that too but I have to get it, work it and just do it. Nobody else can get me there, it has to be me, so it is up to me to get my game plan on. Looking back over my blogs, I don’t know how many times I have said this and quite frankly I think I sound like a broken record. It is a matter to getting my head in the right spot again and adhering to what I want, let nothing stand in my way.

Ciao!

Rocky Balboa in Rocky 6

2009-07-10T15:45:00.000+10:00

"If you know what you are worth then go out and get what you are worth, but you got to be willing to take the hit"

You have to find out what is stopping you!!!!

2009-07-09T09:12:00.005+10:00

Okay, so I am still alive. I have been absent from computers at home due to the time spent on them at work (never ending story there). I have been very remiss of blogging, facebook and even my emails for a month. I think I have about a 1000 of unanswered emails that I need to sort through this weekend.

I have been full at it at work and consequently have let all things else suffer…………….BEHAG journey, house and home, social life and myself!!!!! But this downward spiral really does have to stop. It really is a amazing to watch when you let your guard down just how much can really go down hill. Then you start feeling pretty crappy on top of that and you start to become a recluse. Talking to a friend of mine who is currently part the way through her Naturopath Degree, she said that there is a result of a study done that women who are going through menopause or suffering symptoms of, often will become reclusive during that time. Downside to that is when I stay at home more, I become more lethargic and all I want to do is read which results in a widening of the rear end!!!!! Damn!

In an article I read, Dave Robson says “It is part and parcel of human nature to have bad days, times where low motivation levels prevents us from reaching our full potential”. I have to agree with him that accepting this statement results in failure on my part, to which has been the case the last month. But looking at the failure as a learning curve as well, the lesson learnt is to keep the eye on the prize at all times. I have to program myself to accept failure, and gear up for success from the lessons learnt. Something in his article also rang true for me, that when you are highly motivated, you do put more effort into you reaching your goals and the exact opposite when the motivation is at an all time low.

I have noticed that when my motivation is at an all time low, I don’t visit blogs, or motivating websites or even turn my computer on at home. Its like a wave of despair washed over you and the grey haze around you doesn’t let you see the door, then after a while (a month in my case) you remember you have fog lights and you turn them on to find that door. Whoops passing a mirror in the way you notice there are some changes as well. I wish my fog lights were like my car lights – automatic! Interestingly enough when I do have these moments of sanity, remembering what I want, the automatic button wants to kick in. Like now, and I am thinking “What the hell happened to the last month” It was a ‘Homer Simpson “DOH!”’ moment!

So heres to a new start and hopefully another lesson learnt. Note to self – Try to keep that Automatic button on!

So now I leave you with a pretty neat focus poster! In the words of the great Arnie "I'll be back"!

Ciao!

Oohhhh! I forgot..............

2009-06-02T19:40:00.002+10:00

what having a period feels like! Not happy Jan, so over the pain! Doc says that if and when (which is now) I do get my periods back, the first couple maybe killers. You know what, give me DOMS anyday over this crap! Overit! I think I need to go take some naprogesics.

Okay whinge over and now moving on. Have been amazingly strict and clean with my eating. Did a good light weight session this morning (belly pain a little bit of a hinder on the strength side of things - so just had a play) with Chris. Did a bit of back and shoulders. I am hoping that I can have a good session tomorrow. I miss doing heavy weights sometimes and today was one of those days. You know I never realised how draining Ttom can be. Early to bed tonight I think. Going to be a late night tomorrow night, as it alway seems to be on State of Origin night. We as a group of friends, head over to ones place, have a pot luck dinner and then watch the game. So I will have to try and get my stuff together before I go out. Determined to keep on the current path, so plan and prepare is the way to go.

So a short and sweet post, not very comfortable atm. Talk soon..............

Ciao!

Make the most of this power!

2009-06-01T20:30:00.002+10:00

Well banner says it all at the moment. Food is good, killing it in training and had some drop in scale weight. This current mode of thought and process is working out great.

On another note, I finally have a visit from Uncle Ttom! This traveller has been absent since the 2nd of November, so long drinks between visits and affects are not comfortable atm - belly has a low dull ache. Ah something I didn't miss.

Training is set for the next 10 to 12 weeks, with a very mixed up program from coach. We worked together this morning on some good moves which I am excited about trying out.

Also really starting to enjoy the interval resistance sprints on elliptical. Be good to be able to do that on the treadmill. One day, I will do it! But atm, following with heavy duty cycle intervals and xtrainer.

Well time to log planned food and get clothes ready. and bed.......................................

Ciao

xx

Crisis Centre

2009-05-31T15:29:00.002+10:00

Well hey there.

It looks like that I have a personal crisis that I must deal with while keeping true to my regained vigour in my quest. This is okay, it can only strengthen me, the only thing is that money will be very very tight for a little while, so all treats are out atm, and a learning curve on learning how not to spend so much. Unfortunately with this slight problem, it will affect my allowance for a trainer and coach. No matter, I will not let this affect my determination.

So enough of that, not to bore you any more of it all.

On another subject, all the boys and girls looked fantastic yesterday, shame I couldn't stay for the final event at the ANB show. What a total surprise being able to catch up with the awesome "Fernster". Hey girl you are looking very happy. I am still busting to find out how Traci went. I have lost her mobile and as I am not in the gym tomorrow morning, I now have to wait till gym on tuesday. Damn! And how good did Deb looked and she got third place. Wahoo! all that work certainly paid off. Well done and congratulations.

Well I have better sign off, I am going on a walk down to pick up the car we currently have for sale on the common.

Talk soon.

Ciao!

2009-05-30T07:40:00.003+10:00

Up early! Ran a marathon last night in bed according to my husband.......no wait, his exact words where " were you training for a body building competiton last night"...Hehehehehe! YES I AM! LOL, how bizarre!

On a good spin of the week, after being extremely vigilant and putting in some awesome training, being provided with some pretty good DOMS, I had a very very nice drop throughout the week. So week one almost a success - but wait there are 2 more days to go. I have been up this morning and got all my food ready to take with me, so no problems there. Except dinner, don't know if I am going to stay or not - depends at the time.

I was reading Katie's Blog and I went a looked back at what I wrote exactly one year ago today, well I didn't but I did post tomorrow!! Title was "Not so Simple" On the surface, losing and gaining weight is simple; take in more food that the calories you use through metabolism and exercise and you gain weight. Take in fewer calories than that and you lose weight! Simple..................or not! Losing fat is difficult because your body fights hard to keep you at a constant weight - lose weight rapidly and the body release hormones that make you hungry and slow your metabolism down.

Now getting back to my great surprise this morning, it is truly interesting that after you are rewarded with results from a week long of dedication, concentration, motivation and determinaton how it can make you keep on the straight and narrow. But I really think this is the point where you really need to concentrate and maintain your thinking process and keeping your eye on the game plan. As I was eating my grilled salmon and steamed broccoli last night, watching my husband eat his pizza, the wee food beastie was talking to me - you know you have worked hard all week, one small piece is not going to hurt you. But when the wee food beastie whispers something like that into your ear, you know you ain't gunna stop at one piece, especially if it is a really good pizza, and the way my husband was drooling over it, I assume it was good! But you will be pleased to know, I did smack that wee beastie down and just stuck to my dinner and now I am ever so pleased I did. I was rewarded this morning for my efforts. Wahoo! Gotta love that.

Well I need to go have a shower, find something to wear that I will feel comfortable in, pack my food and head off to give some major yelling to the lovelies at the ANB.

Ciao!

Keeping it with you

2009-05-29T21:04:00.003+10:00

So now yesterday I posted on how I have wasted 8 months of quality time to my BEHAG and also admitting that I do need guidance, I am not invincible. So the struggles that I have placed myself into over the last 8 months seem so stupid..................but they have also been valuable lessons. This will add to my arsenal to maintain this current focus. I will remind myself daily of the wasted time.

Today started fantastic and is currently ending with a slight anxious feeling. Last time I was at a competition, I sprouted that I would be half way to my goal to compete at the end of the year..........and now I have to face the people that I sprouted to, in exactly the same position I was then. I know I shouldn't feel this way, but I am worried that I will be judged. So a slight extension has to be made to my BEHAG!

I wrote on my office wall today, as I spend more time there than anywhere else at any length of time : "Do you want to compete?" "Ask yourself". So this is what I am looking at 5 days a week, everyday, all day and it is something for me to discuss with myself on a day to day basis. This week has been an exceptional strong week - good training (fantastic actually) and brilliant food.

So renewed vows and motivation but how do we continue with this journey. I wonder????? One day, one step, one bite at a time, I guess. Simplify.

My aim is to increase my level of commitment along the way. Increase my 'mental toughness'.

Amazing how something small can help in something. I have been suffering DOMS in quads all week and coming up the end of the week, I had chest and tris to do, then 20 odd mins of interval training, atm I am doing resistance sprints on elliptical trainer. After the 3rd sprint, I was thinking, shit my legs hurt, I could forgo the rest of the exercise and give my legs a bit of a breather. In front of me, was Traci on the treadmill, doing her last steady walk before tomorrow and giddy-up! Kick on! My whole thought process changed to ............'if you complete this session, your legs do not hurt, nor does your chest, you are one day closer to that BEHAG. What keeps you motivated? I am interested to know!

Well thats for now folks, gunna go to bed. Need my sleep! been up since 4.00am.

Ciao!

So Funny

2009-05-29T20:53:00.003+10:00

Hey hey peeps!

I just had to post this instead of sending the rounds of emails, how it is so true!

IMPORTANT HEALTH ADVICE FOR WOMEN.
Do you have feelings of inadequacy?
Do you suffer from shyness?
Do you sometimes wish you were more assertive?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist about Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is the safe, natural way to feel better and more confident about yourself and your actions. It can help ease you out of your shyness and let you tell the world that you're ready and willing to do just about anything. You will notice the benefits of Sauvignon almost immediately and with a regimen of regular doses you can overcome any obstacles that prevent you from living the life you want to live.

Shyness and awkwardness will be a thing of the past and you will discover many talents you never knew you had. Stop hiding and start living. Sauvignon may not be right for everyone. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use it. However, women who wouldn't mind nursing or becoming pregnant are encouraged to try it.

Side effects may include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, incarceration, erotic lustfulness, loss of motor control, loss of clothing, loss of money, loss of virginity, delusions of grandeur, table dancing, headache, dehydration, dry mouth, and a desire to sing Karaoke and play all-night rounds of Strip Poker, Truth Or Dare, and Naked Twister!

WARNINGS: -
* The consumption of Sauvignon may make you think you are whispering when you are not.
* The consumption of Sauvignon may cause you to tell your friends over and over again that you love them.
* The consumption of Sauvignon may may cause you to think you can sing.
* The consumption of Sauvignon may make you think you can logically converse with members of the opposite sex without spitting.
* The consumption of Sauvignon may create the illusion that you are tougher, smarter, faster and better looking than most people.

hehehehe!

ciao!

Goodluck!

2009-05-29T18:30:00.005+10:00

First: to all competing. I will be there cheering and hooting and cat wahling ya all!

I really do not know who is competing tomorrow except for a few:

Like Traci - friend at my gym. Traci is at the reception desk every morning, making a great start to my day every weekday with a smile and a very friendly hello. Have known Traci for about 5 years now, watched her grow into her now addiction of competing in physique! Fingers crossed lovey! Trust me, if I could wolf whistle I would. Instead I will just yell~

Next is Splice (Deb), we have all followed her journey on her blog and quite frankly I am excited to get there and watch her strut her stuff. Go girl!

So to everyone else who I have missed and know, good luck. and to all competitors - knock their socks off, wishing it was me.

Ciao!

It begins with you!

2009-05-28T13:43:00.001+10:00

It always begins with you.

You are psyched, you finally have re-found (is that a word?) the motivation you had many months ago (8 to be exact), you are ready to start today! 8 months ago I thought I didn’t need any help at all, yeah right! I need guidance, I admit finally, even with all the knowledge under my belt, I really do need guidance! And you know what, that is a mind blowing fact! I have always thought of myself being able to cope with everything on my own (and prided on that). Well that pride now has been swallowed and acceptance has shrunk in! You must be enormously self-motivated if you are willing to take on the challenge of losing weight by yourself, well I thought I was, but realization has set in, I AM NOT Now that in itself is pretty frightening! Where is my independence, where is my strength???

Where does motivation come from? I thought that wanting to compete in physique would be enough to motivate me – but obviously my brain didn’t engage in that thought! What are you thinking!!! 8 months you have sauntered along jumping in and out of existence, drop in scale weight, then increase in scale weight! Time for the rot to stop! Let the taming of the beast begin!!!

In your mind, it has to be worth the effort it takes to develop a plan and stick to it. Others can HELP motivate you by giving you a lot of support and nudging you in the right direction, but ultimately, you have to do it for YOU! You need the right attitude. Something Shelley wrote spurred me to write this little post, so thank you Shelley. I think I have opened my eyes (at friggin last!)

An article I was reading said the same thing as Shelley – quoted from article “ One thing that you must do is believe, just take a moment and think about it for a second. Understanding what motivation for you is important if you want to lose weight. The more motivated you are, the more likely you are to start and continue your plan. You need to believe in that motivation!”

Well – it all starts in your brain! Our thoughts and attitudes create our reality. In order to create something, we have to think it first, express it, and then do it!

So back to basics and start to think.

ciao!

Sign posted!

2009-05-27T21:42:00.000+10:00

Get me a Gun!

2009-05-27T13:34:00.001+10:00

the food beast must die!

I lurve the look of muscle!

2009-05-26T19:49:00.002+10:00

What you think is what you’ll get.

2009-05-21T16:25:00.000+10:00

Author: Victoria Johnson

Your mental images manifest in your physical world. Here are some questions you need to ask yourself:

How can you become lean, fit and healthy if all you think about is gaining weight and eating your favourite unhealthy food?
How can you possibly be successful if all you think about is failing or losing?
How can you possibly make more money if you focus on being in debt?
How can you possible get a better job if your energy is spent thinking about how much you hate your current one?

“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he” - James Allen

When I was obese, most of my mental brain energy was spent thinking about food. I would read those women’s magazines that had food advertisements in the first 20 pages. I would stand in line at the supermarket waiting to buy my high-fat, sugar-loaded items and salivate over the artistically designed foods in those beautiful gourmet magazines. When I watched television, I would sit completely still during every food commercial drooling all the while my mind was ingesting the images.

I became what I ingested, thought about and studied. I became a storehouse of excessive calories. I became what I thought about…….fat! If I was ever to experience a change, I had to change. I had to methodically change:

My mental Fuel (Fuel is energy) what you give energy to grows!
My mental images (instant brief snap shots of yourself)
My thoughts (mediations of images)
My Choices (decisions) and ultimately My ACTIONS (every physical movement)

You see, in life, everything counts. Therefore you must count everything

SOW A THOUGHT, REAP AN ACTION
REAP AN ACTION, SOW A HABIT….
SOW THAT HABIT, REAP A DESTINATION!

You are where you are, right now at this moment, because of your consistent thoughts, images and actions, which is the composite of your habits.

FROM THIS DAY forward, if you want to change your future, you must change your Mental Fuel.

In order to achieve your ideal body, your ideal state of thinking, your optimum level of health and performance in all areas of your life you must change your mental diet. You must get rid of all negative, self defeating and destructive material, conversations, unnecessary relationships, images in your home and workplace.

Replace negative thoughts with empowering images by changing what you read, what you watch on TV and on the internet. Change the music you listen to. If you’re depressed and you want to get to a higher more invigorating state, don’t listen to sad “poor me” drippy songs. Put on some high energy moving and grooving music. Put on what I call great memory music. You know, the music you played when everything in your life was awesome. Let your mind take you back there to that place. Soon you will feel powerful again.

“esreveR” your order of thinking

You do this by asking yourself empowering questions. You are a unique individual. You have your own picture of success. If you don’t……………GET ONE!

Never look back at your past mistakes. That’s why they call it the past! You know what didn’t work, you know where your strength is. Call upon it. Develop your own success program. Each of us have our own ideal image of success!

Start now! Go out and buy a magazine that reflect your destiny and only look in that direction. Forget your past, believe me, everyone is tired of hearing about it. Look to your future see your reaching, see your journey. We are all on a journey through this life………..Maybe we will meet along the way. I hope I see you at the top.

Hey guys, what an awesome article, I just had to post it.

xxCiao!

The Wedge of Discouragement

2009-05-19T16:46:00.002+10:00

Author: Tom Venuto

Taking the first step towards a fitness, bodybuilding or weight loss goal is seldom spontaneous. I know people who thought about competing in bodybuilding or fitness for YEARS before they mustered up the courage to set the goal and start the training (let alone stand onstage in a 'teeny bikini') Many people spend months "thinking about it" before they finally join a gym and get started.

So much planning, thought, time and effort go into overcoming inertia and getting the ball rolling.....and what happens? You hit ONE rough patch (you always do), and you allow the wedge the tiny opening it needs. You stray from your diet, miss some workouts, sustain an injury, or more often than any other reason; you simply an injury, or more often than any other reason; you simply don't see results fast enough. One little setback or challenge and you let yourself become hopelessly discouraged.

It's a pity how easily most people are discouraged, because reaching your goals will occur with mathematical certainty if you consistently follow proven principles and natural laws. Too many people get discourgaed or quit beofre they allow the required gestation period to elapse.

If you planted a tree in your backyard, you would know for certain it would grow, as long as you provided the necessary conditons. If you planted it in good soil, nurtured it, and provided it with water and sunlight, your seed would sprout and grow towards the sky as sure as the night follows the day.

Goals are like seeds and they require time to take root and sprout. Getting discouraged just because you have a setback or you don't see your body trasnform 'overnight' is silly. It's denying nature's immutable laws. Becoming negative or quitting because you don't see results fast enough is like digging up your seeds to see if they're growing down there (killing them in the process).

If you're nurturing your 'goal seeds' by consistently working out and eating properly, OF COURSE they're growing! Have you ever watched the grass grow in you backyard? You don't actually SEE each blade getting taller, but you know it's growing every week you have to mow your lawn! Sometimes getting in shape is like watching the grass grow - it really tests your patience. Don't EVER allow that to discourage you! Keep advancing confidently in the direction of your goals.

It's okay to have BIG, magnificent goals, but allow a reasonable time frame for achieving them. Shun the quick fix and cultivate the virtue of patience. Impatience leads to frustration. Frustration leads to discouragement. Discouragement, allowed to foster and grow, is the dream destroyer.

When discouragement strikes - and it will, right along with its brethren, doubt and fear - see it as an opportunity to get stronger. All progress and growth occur against resistance. The lumberjack says, "the stronger the wind, the stronger the trees, good timber does not grow with ease". Just as muscles grow against resistance. You can't become a strong person unless you experience setbacks, challenges and discouragement and overcome them. Life's challenges were meant to be net head on and mastered.

It's been said that when God wants to give you a gift, he wraps it up in a problem. Your current problem, difficulty, or whatever is making you feel discouraged, is your great opportunity! Eachtime you feel discouraged and press on in spite of it, you get tougher. Your skin gets thicker as if a callous were forming. Eventually, you forge an imprenetrable armor against the onslaught of discouragement's wedge and all the other tools that destroy the dreams of weaker men and women. You gain the faith and confidence to look in the mirror and KNOW you'll reach your goal eventually, even though you don't see dramatic changes on a day to day basis.

With the new year before us, I want you to make a commitment today, right. NOW: Set goals for year, but don't stop there. Set "a goal for your goals". Decide that you will see your goals through to completion, no matter what slings and arrows (and wedges) come your way. Decide that you will never give up when you feel discouraged, but instead, you will see discouragement as your signal to dig in and work even harder. Decide that you will conquer discouragement, and in so doing, become more resolved, more deteremined, and stronger than ever. Make the commitment today! Make this year your best year ever!

2009-05-18T19:44:00.000+10:00

2.1456

a little inspiration

2009-05-05T19:38:00.000+10:00

No longer a teenager!

2009-05-04T10:04:00.002+10:00

Happy twentieth Son! 03/05/89.

Phew, can you believe it. I gave birth to this child twenty years ago. I did a little sum the other day and this child for his schooling has cost me almost $80,000.00 but you know what, it turned out for the good. On all accounts he is a typical annoying sometimes rude to his parents type of child but to others, he is a polite child who does respect others space. Christopher was an accident but an accident I am glad that happened. He is turning out to be a very self assured man and I do believe the schooling we have given him helped there. He did go to a private school for 13 years (starting in prep and finishing in year 12) now is in his 3rd year uni studying Spatial Science. Right now he is probably nursing a hangover at a hotel apartment somewhere down the coast with many of his mates. Ahhhh, I remember when I did things like that, only we didn't know about 'Jelly Shots'. Spent saturday afternoon making gazillions jelly shots for him to take down the coast. He had Life Saver duties yesterday afternoon, then I beleive they were going to party pretty hard. Good on him.

Look out the 21st. I have a photo of him as a two year old, lying full eagle spread, naked as a jaybird with just a pair of gumboots on, fast asleep. Can not wait to blow that up. Better start saving now, think it will be a big one.

Ciao!

Do or Do not! There is no TRY!

2009-05-01T08:21:00.001+10:00

Talk to the hand!

2009-04-30T20:14:00.001+10:00

Another day.....

2009-04-28T19:54:00.002+10:00

Hey hey, theres a first for a long time. Another post.

Had a horrible start to morning. Stayed up and watched the finale of Biggest Loser (wishing Tiffany to win) and don't they just drag it all out so long. Anyways, finally I get to bed at 10.30pm (late for me - 8.00opm is my usual time), toss and turn all night with hot flushes and then getting cold (coldest night so far this year), only to turn off the alarm and keep trying to sleep. Finally I get up and manage to leave the house at 6.00pm. A whole hour later than normal, so I missed doing cardio. Did some rehab work that the coach has set for me and then did some proper weights workout. Starting to feel much better now. Weights just always puts me in a very good mood. a bit disappointed about no cardio.

So then get to work and was cruising along nicely, arranging to go back to gym to do boxing and even maybe a spin class afterwards, and accounts clerk goes home complaining of a headache. Now normally I don't really worry or care so much but today there were several factors that annoyed me.
1. We are one girl down as she is in Turkey on hols atm.
2. young receptionist had an appointment at hospital (mum has bowel cancer and she needs to have check ups every 6 months or so) so she left at 11.00am. So I was left there by myself. Again no problem but Tuesday is my usual half day and I had to stay back.................I don't get paid for it! Damn, now that is off my chest...............moving on.

I thought to myself, its okay, get on your bike at home but its broke. Need to look at iton weekend and get it fixed. With winter coming on, it will be harder to walk outside as there are no street lights or footpaths out where I live. Too dangerous.

I am starting to yawn.....................

Decided to take an extra long weekend this weekend. I am have Friday off as well. Wahoo. Gotta love that. Extra time at gym, maybe a sauna afterwards, shower then off to lunch with a bunch of top chicks to talk the afternoon away. Then time to take 'the son' out to dinner for his 20th birthday with the new girlfriend Amelia. My gosh, my son is 20 years old, I remember taking him home from hospital, a little yellow jaundiced baby who was 3 weeks premi. Just trying to work out where we might go. I thought maybe a trip into the city for dinner. We usual frequent the local hangouts and never really get to 'dine out'. Hmmm some more to think about.

Well it is now 8.30pm and I really need to go to bed as I have some serious cardio to do in the morning and then its Budget time at work. The forward financial and then they want a forcasted 5 year plan projecting a 5% growth each year. BUT we have to also produce a 5% saving in cost, especially indirect costs.

Oh well not to bore you anymore, I will sign off.

Ciao!

Fantasy!

2009-04-28T19:13:00.000+10:00

Finally ......A post!

2009-04-27T11:58:00.003+10:00

Well, all I can say……………………..I’ve got nothing! Been busy busy busy. Life is too short and so are the days!

Where do I start……..hmmmm…………okay lets go with injuries and recovery. Well I have been seeing a Sports Physiotherapist (Louise) and now seeing a (gorgeous hunk, shame he is married - Mike) sports massage therapist. I have some pretty tight muscles and they are creating joint pain for me. But hey I am up for a good hard massage that can take your breathe away at times. Mike was working on me the other day and making note how incredibly tight I am in my pecs. Then after about 20mins of pure pain (ahhhh but it felt so good) my range of movement increased immensely and considerably noticeable. So now I have to spend a bit of money to keep it up for a little while till I am a loose goose. Then it is just an upkeep and making sure I don’t get back into that tightness again. More stretching. Every doorway, I stop and do a pec stretch, every now and then I do a drop the shoulders, pull the scapula back stretch. Release, release, release………….ha, how funny is that, now I am thinking Elvis and the song “Release Me, Let me go!” Even my old knee injury is a result of tight muscles and here I was thinking that I tore a tendon or ligament. I just love my knowledge of muscles and muscle control, it makes my life so much easier when talking to therapists and coaches, also makes you more aware of correct technique and good form.

So work has been crazy mad (what friggin recession). We have been tendering like crazy and winning jobs – awesome! Not worried about loss of job at all anymore. But I may have it even easier in the office soon with the older accounts payable lady deciding to go part time. This will make life so much easier and also a lot more peaceful in the office for everyone. Unfortunately, she rubs almost everyone up the wrong way. But with that, it may also mean more work for me. I don’t mind, as I really have it quite easy.

Further on that, how good is it to have a coach! Last Friday, I had the pleasure of spending some time with my coach and we did some good preparatory work for my scapula and tight pecs. Discovered that when I do a back workout, that it is beneficial for me to do some pec stretches on the fit ball in between sets. My range of movement improved dramatically with each set. So all things are leading back to good lifting. Back to ‘how good is it to have a coach’. – someone who is there to nurture you towards your goals, but able to help with the hiccups along the way. I do a lot of training by myself, except 1 morning where I hang with some girls, and it is pretty darn good to be able to talk to someone and bounce ideas and issues with. A lot of people have coaches for many reasons, mine is to adjust and tweak my training and eating regimes that I do on my own.

What does a great coach do?

1: Powerful Listening

2: Higher Expectations

3: Raised Awareness

Where coaching conversations often differ from those between good friends is that although both can include supportive listening and constructive feedback, the coach will invariably be drawn more & more to see the client for what they are truly capable of achieving; though, as far as is humanly possible, always in non-judgmental and inspiring ways. Everything the coach does while working with a client should be with the intention of helping the client to raise his/her own awareness. An example of raising awareness might involve subtly alerting the client as to their use of disempowering language such as: "I can't", "I'll try" etc.

The bottom line of "raising awareness" is to help a client see 'further' than they did before - and if the coach's role can be compared to that of shining a torch on aspects of the client's current life that appear limiting, then an important goal of coaching is for the client to ultimately realize that by turning on their own 'room light', it is going to shine at least as brightly as any coach's torch. In other words, as much as the coach may see the client's potential and help to 'hold the dream', it is always the client's response-ability in the end as to the actual results achieved.

Creating Awareness - Ability to integrate and accurately evaluate multiple sources of information, and to make interpretations that help the client to gain awareness and thereby achieve agreed-upon results.

Did a crazy cooking session yesterday and made 6 breakfasts – protein pancakes cooked as a slice in oven (I took a picture on my phone but I don’t know how to convert it) oats, quinoa, almond meal, cranberries, egg whites all blended together and baked.

6 lunches – Lean lamb rumps roasted with greek herbs, snow peas, cucumber, lettuce, cauliflower salad.

6 snacks – egg whites, herbs and green beans baked like a pie (ditto on the picture, sori).

So I have 6 days of consistent eating and absolutely no thinking needed until dinnertime.

So all good atm. Will get back sooner than later

Ciao!

I wish, I will, I do................I wonder!

2009-04-15T20:56:00.002+10:00

Its that old cyclic "whoa is me!" syndrome. A vicious cycle of 'I wish I was thin', "I will do what I can to get my wish" = I do what is necessary to get my wish = I wonder if I am doing the right thing at the right time. So the cycle seems to go around and around. I wish, I will, I do and I wonder!!!!!
Interesting journey we take to get to our goals and our trials and tribulation. A hellish type of journey when things go very slowly in that total journey to get to your BEHAG. In saying that it certainly can be an eye opener and you tend to learn things about yourself, if you have the right guidance from someone who has a lot of knowledge.

I have discovered I have an intolerance to grain products, but in saying that I am certain I have an addiction to those products too. Everytime I eat bread, I get a massive spike of almost 2kg. Everyday, I have a loaf of fresh bread sitting on my cupboard for the boys for their lunches and everyday I fight the urge to grab a piece of bread, spread it with peanut butter and eat it. What a struggle it is sometimes, like right now. I am sitting here thinking I am hungry, when all the while I have eaten my planned dinner, and everytime I got to the fridge to get a drink of water, the bread and nutty butter is calling................"Dori, we're here! Dori, why won't you come out to play" Argghhhh patoooie! So my latest goal is to get through a whole week with no refined grain products such as bread, crackers and the like. So far 2 days down and only 5 to go.

Then there is the training schedule. Am I not doing enough, am I doing too much? So what is the right mix. And is because my job is sedentary that I have to work a little harder. They say you need to expend more than you eat, if that being so, what is the right ratio. Is doing a minimum 30-60 mins cardio six days a week and four 45min weight sessions a week enough? There is that wonder again. Yes text book theory says that is more than adequate for the result required. But how do you know and how do they know???? I guess it just comes back to experimenting till you get that right mix. Back to I will and I do.

Now many years ago I did this 12 week challenge and I lost 20 odd kilos and it was a great feeling but at what cost. I was on a shake diet for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea, with a normal meal for dinner and a piece of fruit for dinner. But the reality of it all, I was starving myself under the guidance of a nutristionist! ha, what a joke. Now trying to get to my BEHAG the absolute correct way, it is a very slow process and the temptation often crosses my mind to do it the same way again, only a little harder now, as I am so much more appreciative of the right foods. Filling up on "green carbs" instead of starchy ones is definately a challenge. Oh don't get me wrong, this post may seem like a whinge, when in fact it really is not. It is more of a pondering as why some things work quickly and some things work slowly. These are the just the thoughts that are going through my mind atm. As I am sure that many people have their own versions going through theirs.

Something has to give and give soon. I am not sick of trying yet!

Okay okay, moving away from that weird collective ponderings and back to reality. Had my first sports therapy massage today and I think I am a little weird. I really enjoyed the pain that Mike applied to me. Don't get me wrong, I am very sore to touch and will be so much more tomorrow. But I did have an instant improvement from a trigger point release on my pecs and scapula - got more range of movement. You have no idea how happy I am that I do not have any impingement injuries and all my aches and pains are results of very very tight muscles, and the beauty of that, I get to have these wonderful massages. One other thing I learnt is that I have developed rhomboids, something that is a little hard for girls to achieve without trying. I have muscle...........................................NOW LET ME SEE THAT MUSCLE!

Ciao!

Brain Fart!

2009-04-08T20:48:00.004+10:00

Don't you hate it when you are travelling nicely, eating clean and training well and you have a simple brain fart!

Now a brain fart: a lapse in a thought process; inability to remember something clearly; A spontaneous stupid (Stupid the noun, not stupid the adjective) usually accompanied by loss of train of thought .

Well my brain fart was in the shape of my nemisis: hot chips. I was running late home tonight and I got the boys to organise dinner. Well they thought takeaway was on the cards. They did well and got me grilled barramundi (the local shop cooks it on baking paper on his grill) but they got a double serve of hot chips. So without even blinking an eyelid, I put some on my plate and ate them..................................What the!!!!! Now my tummy feels pretty yucky and my head is feeling pretty stupid! I have had such a strict last couple of days and I go and blow it on crap. Oh I logged it on CK and duly spoke to myself. Now the plan is to move on and make sure that I try not to have a brainfart again.

Moving on...............

Injuries are slowly mending themselves and as we work on them more and more, the discovery is that I am very tight, my muscles that is. Even though it is joints that I am feeling the pain, it is actually the muscles around the joints that are the problem. They are tight and therefore pulling, resulting in limited and painful movements...................so recovery of the said issues is trigger point releases by physiotherapist (did I tell you how wonderful Louise is) and sports massage, I mean the real deep painful massages to release the tightness.

Very tired atm, work has been super busy. My company has won the job of doing some major work on Moreton Island cleaning up the oil spill and it has been huge from the word go. But exciting, nice to be involved in something that helps the environment.

Cardio training has been great, a great break from weight training. Now all I need to do is get into running again, but I think that will come naturally later on. When my feet stop hurting of course after running.

Well I guess I should go now, as I am now just jibbering on about nothing really. Heres hoping this weekend is as great as last weekend.

Ciao!

Feel Good Rush!

2009-04-04T18:07:00.002+10:00

Feel the rush
We may not realize what caused it, but most of us have felt it. Whether we’re engaged in a leisurely swim or an adrenaline-charged rock climb, there is that moment when suddenly pain or discomfort drops away and we are filled with a sense of euphoria.
We have endorphins to thank for these moments of bliss.

Endorphins are chemicals produced in the brain, which bind to neuro-receptors to give relief from pain. Discovered in 1975, endorphins are believed to: relieve pain; enhance the immune system; reduce stress; and delay the aging process. Exercise stimulates the release of endorphins, sending these chemicals throughout the body. Endorphin release varies from person to person; some people will feel an endorphin rush, or second wind, after jogging for 10 minutes. Others will jog for half an hour before their second wind kicks in. You don't have to exercise vigorously to stimulate endorphin release: meditation, acupuncture, massage therapy, even eating spicy food or breathing deeply - these all cause your body to produce endorphins naturally.

There is nothing more satisfy than a fantastic rush after a good hard cardio session. That was what was on the cards this morning. A spinning session with the coach! WhooYah! And to top it off, it was a power session...................resistance, resistance, resistance. My quads were burning after the first power track, let alone after the rest. But man, I came away feeling pretty fantastic. Of late, I have been doing bootcamps on a Saturday morning and they are pretty hard. I usually bomb out about mid afternoon from lack of energy and my feet hurt from all the running. Certainly a awesome change doing an Hi Performance spin class and still boasting heaps of energy for the entire day.

Now the fun just didn't there. Meeting up with Coach of course, Lindy, Lia, Tara, Daniel, Shelley, Katie and Shannon. Now finally meeting Lia was fantastic, and not to mention her gorgeous man, Daniel. You have a catch there Lia. And not afraid to sit with a bunch of girls for several hours at a time. Meeting the lovely Katie and Shannon was an added bonus for me. and not to mention catching up with the angel Lindy and awesome Tara and stunning Shelley(man you are looking hot!). We were talking and catching up and enjoying vietnamese food for quite some time. It was like a family get-together. Talk about awe inspiring and reminding me of what I want.

There is nothing like meeting up with like minded people. It certainly gave me that extra boost in self motivation once again. So now I have a little more renewed vigor, it is time to rock and roll again with a little more ooommph! Look out gym, I'm hitting you hard next week.

Elbow pretty good today so it was a good decision to give upper body a bit of a rest. Now I just have to try and re-train myself not to sleep on my arms.

Okay, thats a first for a while, blogging one day after. Juices must be on tap again.

Have a great weekend!

Ciao!

Whoosh! There it goes again..............time!

2009-04-02T20:40:00.002+10:00

Looks like it will be a continual weekly update atm. It seems that is all I have time for these days. So what has happened in the last week to me……………………..My armpit injury is all but recovered, still having a little work done on it by Louise and some self work with my trusty tennis ball. BUT I have developed a nasty case of tennis elbow, so bad, it hurts to brush my hair. I can not lift the coffee pot………………….Arrghh! No coffee! Ice ice baby! That is my prescription and this week I have done absolutely no upper body workouts with weights. Cardio, cardio, legs, cardio, cardio……………you getting the picture. I have been doing some leg workouts on Strive machines, using machines where I do not need to use my upper body to lift weights on etc. Pin loaded all the way. But in saying that I have a severe case of the DOMS today from my workout yesterday morning…..something along the lines of this.

Leg Curl – Levels 1, 2 & 3 – 10 reps at 50kg, supasetting each set with long walking lunges – no stopping, continual walking. About 40 steps.
Leg Extensions – Levels 1, 2 & 3 – 10 reps at 60kg, supasetting each set with split squats or one legged squats, whatever you want to call them. 10 reps each leg, deep, back knee touching ground while on bench.
Leg Press – seated – Levels 1, 2 & 3 – 10 reps at 100kg, supasetting each set with plie squats, feet flared out parallel, 10 reps.

Those who know me, knows that it is absolutely killing me to just walk into the gym and bypass the gym floor. But in saying that, I have been doing some awesome cardio sessions with intervals and spin classes. But with pins and needles and tingling sensations running down my forearm, I think the best thing to do is really give the upper body a bit of a rest. Everyone hates the torture of cardio. Whether it is pedaling on a bike or running up stairs, cardio is the most grueling and annoying part of one’s workout.
Variety, or the lack of, is responsible for the most cardio routines killed, along with many others things in life. Doing the exact same thing over and over is a quick way to turn you away from your cardio. Humans have attention spans, some short and some long, nevertheless everyone has a breaking point. I have decided to not do the same type of cardio everyday. Even if I do 3-4 spin classes a week at my gym, I am so lucky to have so many different instructors there, each one with their own style. Speaking of spin class, I get to catch with Coach, dishing out some punishment on Lindy and Lia and Lisa.

Well you would think I have more things to say after not blogging for a week, but I am on a bit of a drought atm. Eat, Sleep, Train, Work……that is all I seem to be doing these days. And for what reason …………..Results???????????? Huh, now that is a funny word, results.

re·sult

intr.v. re·sult·ed, re·sult·ing, re·sults

1. To come about as a consequence.
2. To end in a particular way: Their profligate lifestyle resulted in bankruptcy.
n.
1.
a. The consequence of a particular action, operation, or course; an outcome.
b. A favorable or concrete outcome or effect. Often used in the plural: started studying and got immediate results.
2. Mathematics The quantity or expression obtained by calculation.

Nuh! I don’t like that word so I am going to say that I am doing what I do for the wantof Satisfaction!

sat·is·fac·tion
n.
1.
a. The fulfillment or gratification of a desire, need, or appetite.
b. Pleasure or contentment derived from such gratification.
c. A source or means of gratification.
2.
a. Compensation for injury or loss; reparation.
b. The opportunity to avenge a wrong; vindication.
3. Assurance beyond doubt or question; complete conviction.

For me it is satisfaction even if I don’t get the results I want to see every week, but know that I have tried my best that day to get to where I want to go. The satisfaction that I am working hard for my desires of that elusive BEHAG.

There is the all time old saying……….”Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going”
Let this be a simple reminder to make the right choice.
Your own mind is your greatest ally. You can have all the information, know exactly what to eat and how to train but without motivation and a firm committment to changing your bad habits you will not achieve your fat loss goals.
To develop the body you want and to achieve health and wellness takes determination in breaking old habits.

" Today's Action Becomes Tomorrows Habit"

Have a great weekend everyone.

Ciao

Has that much time gone by????

2009-03-25T10:49:00.001+10:00

Oh boy! Long time no blog. Have been a bit busy and also sadly, got busted at work for too much time on internet. So time to pull back the reins a bit and now have to blog of a night time, to which I have very limited time (I NEED MY SLEEP). So bare with me as my blogs may just have to wait till weekends now. Bummer.

What have I been up to the last couple of weeks. Well training, eating, sleeping, training, eating and sleeping…………………..and very little movement towards my BEHAG. I am now about 7kg behind my forecast weight, so time to crack a whip or two. Although training is not the problem, food is, it needs to be tightened a lot more. I have been playing around with food under coaches instructions and definitely have discovered that I may just be wheat intolerant. My emotions didn’t seem to play up much since starting on a new pattern, except for one night, but I felt that coming on and wrote to coach about it. But instead of it continuing through for several days, it was all good the next morning. Got to love that.

You know, I do believe emotions do play a lot with the way you travel in your quest of body fat eradication. I often and I really mean often get quite down on myself about the very very very very slow process of losing that body size. Especially when you train so hard and eat pretty clean most of the time. Always in deficit to my daily BMR with food intake and exercise taken. I often wonder what people think of me at the gym, they do see me working so hard at it but I never seem to change shape! I know it is all in my head and as most of you would have experienced at one time or another, it is really hard to control sometimes. It is bit like a Ferris wheel – one minute your on top and then one minute your on the bottom. The hardest part of the journey is that you can see yourself getting negative on yourself but you can’t stop yourself from doing it, no matter how many times you say to yourself – it is all part of the journey and the journey is obviously a long slow one. I AM WILLING TO SEE HOW AND WHERE I NEED TO CHANGE! ALL IS WELL, AND EVEN BETTER THINGS ARE COMING MY WAY!

I have noticed my body has actually changed shape though. I am carrying more around my middle torso, but more in front than all the way round. Yuckkyy, I am looking like my relatives! Damn, genetic pre-disposition just sucks! But makes me all the more determined to get into it harder, only recovery time now is taking a little longer – I am sorer longer, my feet hurt longer and the reduction is taking longer! Pooohheeeyy! It can only get better yeah????

But with all that being said, I still get up at 4.30am in the morning, go to the gym, slog it out for 90 odd minutes, measure and eat my food – keeping it as clean and as natural as possible, avoid all processed stuff possible day in and day out. Enjoying training – love weights and getting into some really good cardio sessions of late. Been doing some real doosey leg workouts, like the GBC training and a Tready/Bike/Lunge triple play (ow!).

Now this part is for LJ, if she reads this. Honey, it really doesn’t matter what the ex is up to. You have got to remember it is your life and who gives a rats arse about what she does and thinks. You need to concentrate on keeping you happy, your man happy and generally making life more simpler for you. From all accounts, I think she is so insanely jealous of you, that the only way she can get back at you is to talk about your health issues to other people, putting you down. What you need to do is show her that you are not phased by her silly belittling actions. I know it is really hard to do, but you are already on the right track about not caring if she reads what you write. Remember, this is your blog, not hers! The reason we blog is because we want to put our journey down on paper and BUT we have to not worry about what others think about what you are doing otherwise don’t blog it. Remember, a blog is a public domain unless you make it private.

Now on another note, Work has been crazy mad, but still in the back of my mind I do worry about the loss of income. So I have started a little venture on my own and atm it is a bit of a secret, just waiting to see if it will take off. It is doing one of the things I love to do. Sorry for being so secretive but all will be revealed as soon as the settling in and processing phase has begun.

Farout, do you realize it is the end of March already and the next round of competitions start in 8 weeks time. Getting excited, as I will be seeing so many people I know up on stage competing……………..I won’t know who to yell for! Coach will definitely get one of the loudest yells.

Well had better sign off and get on with work. I sort of cheated with this blog. I wrote it in word then logged on to the blog and just copy paste it. Hehehehe! I can still blog but not online.

Have a fantastic day.

Ciao!

Explanation!

2009-03-12T11:55:00.003+10:00

To explain my last post, what I am trying to say that underneath the cover is a spectacular site..................it is just the waiting for that site to come through that is the hardest journey of all. Most of all, I am a person who likes things to happen fast and now, and I can honestly tell you that my journey to my BEHAG has been the most taxing on my mental state.

You know getting the exercise and food right is part of the journey, but when you have that down pat to a 95% accuracy point, and a very slow result for it, it is certainly very taxing on the emotions. Now no, i am not down and out at all, in fact i am very very excited and happy atm. My emotions are quite high and is outwardly shown too. Got to gym this morning, all bouncy like and expended a good amount of energy in a spin class. But you know what, because I am on such a high, i think I could have done a few more. I truly love feeling like this.

"What you choose to see within from now on will appear in your external world. Since your mind can neither mirror nor construct reality, the new images and affirmations will replace the old and create a new reality. " So my new mantra is coming along nicely.

Had two small drops over the last couple of days, seeing me again at a new low. But these are very small drops..................the big one has to hit soon. I have also started taking Maca Root.

WHAT IS IT?

Maca is a dehydrated, cruciferous root vegetable, and not a drug. It is a benign, medicinal food which has been in use for 10,000 years, possibly more, and has had ample time to be judged effective. Today, dried Maca roots are ground to powder and sold in drug stores in capsules as a medicine and food supplement to increase physical stamina and fertility. (Well, I don't need the last one.......that would be last thing I need). But it does help with the following:

BENEFITS OF MACA

Menopausal symptoms: hot flashes, tender breasts, sleeplessness and emotional upsets, "brain fog", vaginal dryness.

Osteoporosis: significant bone rebuilding, improvement in bone density.

Energy booster: Balances the endocrine system - thyroid, pituitary and adrenal glands.

Male impotence

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Period problems: Pain, PMS, flooding and/or scant flow

American and Peruvian doctors have brought this extraordinary remedy to the attention of the Western world. Once in a decade a remedy used by native peoples for thousands of years comes to our attention and it seemed so important to health that we wonder how we ever got along without it. Maca is that kind of supplement. Now women have an alternative to hormone replacement therapy drugs. Maca works in an entirely different and more satisfactory way for most women than phytoestrogen herbs like black cohosh and liquorice root. And men, too, find that maca can counteract the difficulties they may experience in maintaining good sexual relationships as they age, due to a general slowing down in the output of the endocrine glands.

For me, it is for the first issue. I have a friend who is going through the same issues as I am atm, only she is 4 years older than me, and she was put onto Maca Root. Since taking it, her whole system has come back into a normal four week cycle and no hot flushes or night sweats. So I thought I would read up on it and give it a try. That is not to say that it will work for me, but if you don't give it a go, you will never never know!

Food has been 100% planned, logged and eaten. I have always eaten a lot of veges, but my intake has increased a little as we are trying to find that right balance (without bread).
Exercise: This is been pretty basic, time taken up on weight days with prep work on stabilisers before doing more compound work. A steady state cardio after every weight session and a couple of spin sessions a week.
Emotions: As posted above, all on a pretty big high, all in a very good place.
Recovery: Still doing homework on under armpit injury - but feeling much much better and so is the tennis elbow - now that I know how to get at the trigger points to ease the pain. hasn't stopped me with weights, maybe just made me back off on the heavy weights. I have some very sore abdominals atm, sorri coach, I did a little more on them than prescribed. And I did my CPR re-access today with a bunch of construction boys..........funny, my abs are hurting so much! hehehe!

Well best be going, so have a great day!

Ciao!

And................

2009-03-11T21:16:00.001+10:00

This is what my life feels like atm.

Ciao!

Madly catching up!

2009-03-09T20:00:00.002+10:00

Hey Hey

Still madly catching up, and sadly I can not longer spend as much time at work on th e internet, as I have been pinged for spending some quality time on the net. My fault though as I will log in and often just leave it open all day. So time to step away from the net, so it will take me a little longer to catch up with everything, but no worries, I will get there.

Slept in this morning, head was very thick and fuzzy. So no gym time.

Food: Not planned but well chosen and logged. A little under in veges but that was because I was unprepared for today. Better choices for tomorrow, most food already prepared and ready to go.
Training: Nothing today. Call it a recovery day
Emotions: All good, in fact the best so far after spending time with my parents. They are seriously a lot of work and more times than none I walk away quite emotionally drained and feeling belittled. But as I told coach went away with a game plan and it played out well.
Recovery: My arches on my feet were a little tender from running on Saturday, so I wore my sports shoes all weekend during the day.

Well a short a sweet post tonight as I have CK and forum to catch up.

Ciao!

Just some yabba

2009-03-08T19:29:00.006+10:00

Heroes!

Peter Gibbon, author of "A Call to Heroism: Renewing America's Vision of Greatness". "It's unthinking admiration. Whereas 'hero' comes to us from the Greek word meaning half-god and half-human."

Real heroes have three attributes, he says. The first is extraordinary achievement — they have to do something incredible. The second is bravery or courage, which can be physical or moral.

"And the third attribute, which all heroes have, is character or greatness of soul," he says. And the more of these three qualities you have, the greater the hero you are."

I have my heroes............and they are people whose blogs I follow. They have amongst themselves many of the attributes listed above. The Coach, for her extrodinary achievements and character. I would recommend her as coach to anyone and everyone, but not to take precious time away from clients who need her. People like Carolyn and Tara who have made an amazing journey and an awesome mentor. Shelley for her totally no nonsense character (I think of Wonderwoman character best depicts her). I just love reading her posts every morning. Shame that something has upset her to make it private now. Lia and Rae, for their strength in light of their horrible year that has gone by. Selina, Deb, Nicole, Magda, Shar, Steph, Frankie, Em............. ohhhh I can't just keeping listing them all. So just saying all the bloggers on my list are obviously people who I admire and follow their journeys, journals and mumblings because it inspires, encourages and incites me to do better at my quest of the "BEHAG".

Well I had a good start to the weekend with food and training. Did boot camp again Saturday morning, and this time I wore my heart rate monitor to gauge what I get up to. Lots of running, boxing, suicide runs, tyre pulling, pushups, situps, squats.......oh you know the drill, anyways, my max heart rate was 215 and minimum was 132 bpm. for 109 minutes. then I had an omelette afterwards, did some shopping then proceeded to go down to Tenterfield to the "Bavarian Oktoberfest"

Saturday night had a knackwurst, sauerkraut and pretzel. I know, not on the menu..............but hey when in Rome!!!!!! Becks, Becks and more Becks!!!!!!!!!!!!! Actually, no I did not have some Becks, but everyone else did! Me,it was water water water. Dancing and listening to a real Bavarian Oompapa Band just to put you in the mood. Tenterfield went all out and decorated the great hall to look and feel like a real Fest Haus in Germany. There were many men in their 'Lederhoosen' and women in their 'Derndel' - traditional dress. for men it was leather long shorts with bib and brace. Women a dark dress with a fullish skirt to knee with a embroidered bodice and mock apron. I am sure you have all seen pictures before. This is my heritage, so I introduced my hubby to Beer Fest. Sunday a leisure day spent with friends on way home who have purchased a farm at Goomburra..........a running creek right at their back door, breeding Lowlines, a miniture cow (cute too). So happy for them, they are doing what they wanted to do. Now at home reporting, about to go and log in CK what has been eaten over weekend. Have a good week.

ciao!

Oh Pulease!

2009-03-06T20:30:00.002+10:00

Never got to get to blog yesterday so I am doing two days in a row. So here goes.:

Thursday:

scale drop again...............a whole 100gms! Whoopde frickin doo! But hey it is a loss regardless of the amount.

Food: 100% planned and logged
Training: Cardio
Emotion: All good, the world totally rocks
Recovery: all good, a few tiny niggles but no underarm injury .............Wahoo! Did I tell I just love Louise, what a great sports therapist!! Thanks coach!

Friday:

Arrghhhhh! Lying Lying hounds.................I did not! scale up 300gms. Nooooooooooooooooo! I asked for another drop! Maybe I should have greased the springs a little better! Bah!

Food: 100% planned and logged
Training: weights and then 20min walk
Emotion: Hate metal monsters but on top of the world.
Recovery: legs are a little tight but all good.

I am sitting here with my legs up on a ottoman, watching the Wedding Singer with Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. Gosh, anyone remember all those songs from the 80's. The Cure, Billy Idol, Boy George. Me, I was totally into Billy, I even used to practise doing the curled lip when singing. and the big hair, fluro clothes ..... yada yada yada............Oh my gosh I am getting old.

Okay, time to go. Talk to you all soon. Have a great weekend.

Ciao!

And that's how it is done!

2009-03-04T19:42:00.003+10:00

Well today just rocks!

Food planned, eaten and logged. All good food. Water on target

BMR: 1733
Food: 1459

Training: Cardio Cardio Cardio! Did steady state on 4 machines at 75% perception. Left the gym absolutey dripping wet. Was asked on way of gym did I do some high intensity stuff..............nuh uh! just have this awesome cooling system within this weird body.
Emotions: The world rocks atm!
Physical: Wow is all I can say. My under armpit injury feels like it is not there except for the reminder of the bruising left by the pressure point release by physiotherapist. Can I say I just love her to death.............she has made my gym time so much easier.
Recovery: Legs were a little sluggish on xtrainer, but then I did have it at a level 10 and trying to maintain rpm at 65-70. But all good on other machines. Elbow played up twice today, but got into pressure points as shown by Louise and pain goes away and all is good. Did my tennis ball homework on my under armpit pressure point - that was a little painful as the area is still bruised from therapist yesterday.

Now why does the world rock. Well over the weekend, my metal monster spikes almost equated to a 3kg increase (all doms and fluid - thats a fact)and I have a theory and note this is only a theory, about my body not liking the heat. I love the feeling of heat and don't mind it but it may appear that my body has different ideas. Now I work in airconditioning, drive an aircoonditioned car and go to an airconditioned gym, so weekdays I remain pretty cool throughout the day and arrive home early evenings when it is cooler. But on weekends, I do exercise outside in heat, clean house in heat, garden in heat and seem to spike almost every weekend. Sorry got off the story there, What I am trying to say, in 2 days I have dropped 3kg and brought me to my new all time low. Wahoo! Lets keep this cycle going I say!

Ciao!

Quinoa - a super food?

2009-03-03T20:52:00.003+10:00

Quinoa

Quinoa (keen-wa) has been consumed for thousands of years in South America. Its small nutritious seeds resemble millet and is very versatile to a variety of cooking styles, inviting seasonings from mild to wild. Compared with other grains and some vegetables, quinoa is higher in protein, calcium, B vitamins and iron. It's also packed with lysine and other healthy amino acids and is gluten-free, making it easy to digest.

Quinoa flour, ground from whole seeds, has a delicate nutty flavor. A gluten-free product, it is suitable for anyone afflicted by wheat allergies.

Quinoa can be eaten as hot breakfast cereal; an infant cereal; a rice replacement; a nutritional thickener for soups, chili and stew; in salads, casseroles and desserts; and more.

You can see here the exceptional nutritional value of quinoa: Quinoa/1/2 cup dry

Calories 318
Total fat (g) 4.9
Saturated fat (g) 0.5
Monounsaturated fat (g) 1.3
Polyunsaturated fat (g) 2
Dietary fiber (g) 5
Protein (g) 11
Carbohydrate (g) 59
Cholesterol (mg) 0
Sodium (mg) 18
Riboflavin (mg) 0.3
Vitamin E (mg) 4.1
Copper (mg) 0.7
Iron (mg) 7.9
Magnesium (mg) 179
Manganese (mg) 1.9
Phosphorus (mg) 349
Potassium (mg) 629
Zinc (mg) 2.8

The Top-Secret Superfood
Packed with protein, loaded with fiber, and older than Peru, quinoa is one of the most nutritious foods on the planet
By: Matt Goulding

Francisco Pizarro might have known a thing or two about New World conquest, but he would have made a lousy nutritionist. After toppling the Incan empire in 1532, the Spanish conquistador filled his ships with potatoes and corn--destining them to become major players in the European diet--while leaving a third crop to wither. Turns out, the fields Pizarro neglected to harvest were filled with the world's most nutritious grain: quinoa [pronounced KEEN-wah].

"Quinoa is a true wonder food," says Daniel Fairbanks, Ph.D., a professor of plant and animal science at Brigham Young University. "It has about twice the protein of regular cereal grains, fewer carbohydrates, and even a dose of healthy fats." Plus, it's considered a "complete" protein, which means that, like meat, eggs, and dairy, it packs all of the essential amino acids your body needs to build muscle.

Unfortunately, not much has changed in the almost 500 years since Pizarro pillaged the Incas. More than ever, nutritionally inferior foods, such as corn, potatoes, rice, and wheat--especially the refined versions--fill our plates, while quinoa gathers dust on grocery-store shelves. And that's a shame, because besides being great for you, quinoa is the rare culinary triple threat: delicious, easy to prepare, and ultraver-satile. Ready to harness the full power of this superfood? Here's everything you need to know to make it a staple at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The User's Guide to Quinoa
Quinoa has an addictive nutty flavor, cooks up quicker than rice, and can be used to make pilafs, risottos, salads, soups, and even desserts. The downside: Few men know where to find it, let alone how to prepare it. Typically, you can locate quinoa in the rice aisle or the health-food section of your grocery store. You can also stock up at edenfoods.com.

As for preparation, the simplest way is to cook quinoa like pasta: Fill a large pot or saucepan with water, and bring it to a boil. Add just about any amount of quinoa, turn the heat to low, and cook until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain the water and allow the quinoa to cool.

Cook up a big batch and store it in Tupperware in your refrigerator, and you'll have a ready-to-eat side dish--like rice or pasta--that goes with just about any meal. (To warm, microwave it for 60 seconds.) Or you can be far more creative. For instance, quinoa can be used to...

Power up your breakfast: Combine a cup of cooked quinoa with 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 cup frozen blueberries, and microwave for 60 seconds. This makes a great alternative to oatmeal.

Redefine dessert: In a blender, puree two very ripe bananas with 2 cups whole milk. Combine the mix with 2 cups cooked quinoa, 1/2 cup raisins, a tablespoon of sugar, and a teaspoon of cinnamon, and simmer for 10 minutes. If you're celebrating, add a glug of dark rum at the last second. Creamy and sweet, it's a healthier version of rice pudding.

Check in Time!

2009-03-03T20:22:00.003+10:00

Wahoo! Rockin it today!
woke up this morning ready to walk on the clouds.
Food: planned, eaten 100% and logged

BMR: 1803cals
Food: 1448cals

Training: Weights 50mins and 30 mins steady treadmill
Emotions: In a very good place, the world is pretty fantastic atm.
Physical: That is feeling good too. I had the same niggling this morning but coach put me onto a great sports physio and after seeing her just once, my underarm pit injury is the best it has felt in several months. FANTASTIC! I have some pressure point exercises to do every night with a tennisball. It feels so great.

It appears my injurt is internal rotator cuff, but not a drastic injury...........phew! It appears that my interal cuff muscles are very tight and as a result all the surrounding muscles are affected as well. This is why the pain is not localised but travelling in the armpit area. So I am to have some serious pressure point work done with homework inbetween with a tennis ball for more pressure point releases. All I can say is thank goodness. I had a horrible suspicion that it may have been a tear. Now that injury as been identified, there are 2 more to go......knee and foot. The beauty of this wonderful discovery is that I do not have stop training in anyway at all.

Talk again soon

Ciao!
xx

Updates

2009-03-02T19:19:00.003+10:00

Saturday all good - did bootcamp, cleaned house, gardened and visited naturopath. Food on target - perhaps ate 1 too many pieces of bread. Scale had a spike in morning.
Sunday - wanted to sleepin but didn't, cleaned a little, veged around, had several little cat naps. scale had another spike in morning. Food on target.

Monday

Woke up this morning feeling a little off and swollen, so decided to have another day of recovery. Scale another spike - all spikes were quite large, but did not the head get carried away.
Food: On target and as planned. Fully logged.
BMR 1855
Food 1443
Training: recovery - no training
Emotion: good, in a healthy place
Physical: Not so good, injuries are just giving me curry. I have made an appointment to see a sports physio tomorrow - coach actually put me on to her. Will be interested to see what I have actually injured.

So heres looking at a drop tomorro morning and another gold star day.

Ciao!

Kangaroo - One of the best protein source.

2009-03-02T11:38:00.002+10:00

Amazing Nutrition Facts

If you’re looking for a family-friendly meat that packs a nutritious punch, then look no further than kangaroo meat. It gets the thumbs up on a wide variety of nutrition fronts, with the key highlights for kangaroo meat being:
• It has an energy (kilojoule) content that stacks up well against other lean red meats
• It is a terrific source of high-quality protein
• It is low in fat, with less than 2% fat
• It contains low levels of ‘undesirable’ saturated fats
• It is a source of heart-friendly omega-3’s
• It contains CLA, which has antioxidant properties and may help reduce body fat in humans
• It is a particularly rich source of the minerals iron and zinc
• It is an important source of several B-group vitamins, namely riboflavin, niacin, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12
• It has the Heart Foundation Tick of Approval*
Let’s take a look in a little more detail at what this versatile, tasty and nutritious game meat has to offer.
Energy content
As they say, the Aussie kangaroo is a lean, mean, fighting machine. These animals are super active and graze on natural foliage which produces a lean, high quality game meat.

A 150g serve of kangaroo fillet or steak typically provides 643 kilojoules (that’s 153 calories). Let’s put this into perspective. For an average adult needing 8700 kilojoules a day, a 150g serve of kangaroo fillet or rump provides just over 7% of daily energy needs. That leaves 93% of kilojoules to come from other nutritious foods.

The energy content of kangaroo meat stacks up well against other trimmed and lean red meats – take a look:
Energy (kilojoules) per 100g of raw meat
Kangaroo fillet 1 Lean beef fillet 2 Trim lamb steak 2
429 kilojoules 608 kilojoules 582 kilojoules

Protein
When it comes to high-quality protein, kangaroo meat goes to top of the list. A 150g serve of kangaroo fillet provides an average adult with 66% of their daily protein needs3. The best part is that the high-quality protein found in kangaroo meat comes with lots of taste and enjoyment.
Fat
It’s a fact – with less than 2% fat, kangaroo meat is a champion lean meat. Even when stacked up against lean beef, trim lamb and lean, skinless chicken breast, kangaroo meat comes out trumps (see the table below).

Fat content per 100g of raw meat

Total Fat Sat Fat Tran Fat Poly Fat Mono Fat
Kangaroo fillet or steak 1.3g .3g .1g .4g .5g
Lean Beef fillet 6.3 2.4 .3 .6 2.5
Leam Beef Rump 4.6 1.7 .2 .4 1.9
Trim Lamb Steak 5.8 2.0 .3 .6 2.3
Lean Chicken Breast 1.6 .5 n/a .3 .7

To visualise the total amount of fat in a 100g portion of kangaroo meat, picture a metric teaspoon. Now fill one quarter of that teaspoon with margarine. That’s how little fat there typically is in a portion of kangaroo meat – next to nix!

The good news doesn’t stop with the amount of fat in kangaroo, but also the type of fat. Kangaroo meat contains low levels of ‘undesirable’ saturated fats and proportionally higher amounts of ‘desirable’ unsaturated fats, namely monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Unsaturated fats help to maintain heart health, so eating kangaroo meat is a welcome addition to the family dinner table.

The low total fat and saturated fat content of kangaroo meat should be good news to the ears of all Australians, including health-conscious consumers and those striving to look after their heart health.
Omega-3’s
Most people associate omega-3 fats with fish. It may come as a surprise that kangaroo meat is also a source of these heart-friendly, polyunsaturated fats.

A lab analysis1 carried out on Macro Meats kangaroo meat products confirmed our meats contain omega-3's, specifically ‘long-chain omega-3 fatty acids’ which help support heart health and wellbeing. Kangaroo fillet and steak, for example, contains 74mg of long-chain omega-3’s per 100g of raw meat. Women typically need around 90mg of long-chain omega-3 fats per day and men 160mg per day4. So kangaroo meat is certainly a worthy contributor to omega-3 intakes.

For more detailed information on omega-3 content of our kangaroo meat products, go to the ‘Product Nutrition Information’ section of this website and refer to ‘Table 3’.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA)
CLA is a ‘desirable’ fat found in kangaroo meat which deserves a special mention. Research shows CLA has antioxidant properties and may help reduce body fat in humans5, which is good news to those watching their waistline.

The CLA content of kangaroo was first brought to light in 2004, when a PhD student sponsored by the University of Western Australia and CSIRO found that the meat of kangaroo has valuable amounts of CLA when compared to that of other commonly eaten meats6. More recently, 80 samples of four different kangaroo meat cuts were analysed from animals taken at two geographical locations. The average CLA content for all samples was 11.7mg CLA/100g meat7.

The CLA present in other red meats (e.g. beef, veal, lamb and mutton), is mostly present in the fat component, but it is also present in the muscle meat: between 10mg and 46mg CLA/100g of raw meat8. Regularly eating lean meat, including kangaroo meat, as part of a healthy, balanced diet is a sure fire way to boost CLA levels in the diet.
Iron
The creators of ‘Popeye the Sailor’ should have made Popeye tuck into a meal of kangaroo meat to boost iron and energy reserves before helping to save the day. Iron is essential for energy production and it helps transport oxygen around the body. This ‘must-have’ mineral also plays a key role in brain development9.

Kangaroo meat is a particularly rich source of iron. In fact, a 150g serve of kangaroo steak or fillet1 provides 55% of the recommended dietary intake (RDI) for iron. In other words, more than half of an average adult’s daily iron needs will be met when they enjoy a 150g serve of kangaroo meat.

So household food preparers take heed - when it comes to iron, adding kangaroo meat to your weekly shopping list and menu is one way to help keep your family on top of the iron stakes. Soon the whole household will be jumping out of their skin and hopping mad for more!
Zinc
When you think zinc, you probably think of the iconic Australian white stuff that is applied to your nose to keep the powerful sunrays at bay. The type of zinc being referred to here is dietary zinc – a mineral that’s essential for growth, wound healing and a strong immune system.

The good news is kangaroo meat is a good source of this important mineral. Indeed, a 150g serve of kangaroo meat2 provides over a quarter (28%) of the recommended dietary intake (RDI) for zinc. The other good news is that zinc found in animal foods, like red meat and seafood, is better absorbed than the iron from plant foods10. So when it comes to adding some ‘zing’ in your immune system and healing ability, a meal of kangaroo meat should be top of mind.
B-Group vitamins
Kangaroo meat is an important source of several B-group vitamins, namely riboflavin, niacin, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12. For example, a 150g serve of kangaroo loin fillet2 typically provides:
• 36% of the Recommended Dietary Intake (RDI) for riboflavin. Riboflavin is primarily involved in energy production and supports vision and skin11.
• 63% of the RDI for niacin. Niacin helps to release energy from carbohydrates and fat and also supports the digestive and nervous systems11.
• 80% of the RDI for Vitamin B6. This vitamin is needed for protein and carbohydrate metabolism. It also helps to manufacture red blood cells and regulate certain hormones11.
• Over 100% of the RDI for Vitamin B12. It helps to break down fats and proteins to produce energy. Vitamin B12 also plays a role to produce red blood cells and helps to maintain normal nervous system functions11.
If you need more convincing on the nutrition credentials of kangaroo meat, then wait, there’s more!
National Heart Foundation Tick of Approval
It’s heartening to know that the Heart Foundation’s Tick of Approval* has been granted to a variety of Macro Meats kangaroo products, including our:
• Kangaroo Steak
• Kangaroo Fillets
• Kanga Bangas (sausages)
• Kangaroo Mince
• Diced Kangaroo Meat
Our kangaroo meats pass the strict nutritional criteria set by the Heart Foundation and we are pleased to display the nutritional stamp of approval on-pack. Next time you go shopping, look out for our meats displaying the red and white Tick.

References:

1. Macro Meats independent nutritional analysis, performed by AgriQuality, July 2006.
2. NUTTAB, 2006 (and MLA ‘Nutrient Composition Data’ for trans fatty acids).
3. Foods Standards Code 1.2.8. Protein reference value for percentage Daily Intakes. Food Standards Australia New Zealand. Sourced Jan, 2009.
4. Department of Health and Ageing. Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand. Executive Summary. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia, 2006.
5. Whigham LD, Watras AC and Schoeller DA. Efficacy on conjucated linoleic acid for reducing fat mass: a meta-analysis in humans’. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, May 2007; Vol 85, No 5, 1203-1211.
6. CSIRO Livestock Industries, Media Release: Kangaroo meat – health secret revealed. http://www.csiro.au/files/mediarelease/mr2004/kangaroofat.htm
7. Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. Nutritional Composition of Kangaroo Meat – Fat Content and Lipid Composition, Nov 2008. (RIRDC Publication No. 08/142).
8. Droulez V, Williams P, Levy G et al. Nutrient composition of Australian red meat 2002. 2. Fatty acid profile. Food Australia 2006; 58: 335-341.
9. Beard J. Iron Deficiency Alters Brain Development and Functioning. The Journal of Nutrition. May 2003; 133:1468S-1472S.
10. Samman S. Zinc. Nutrition & Dietetics 2007; 64 (Suppl. 4):S131-S134.
11. Vitamin B. The Better Health Channel, May 2008. http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/

Uh Oh - Orange light!

2009-02-27T08:27:00.003+10:00

Yesterday's Successes.
Food: ate 95% planned (missed afternoon meal) - had an extra strong coffee with 2 pods and 1 ameretti biscuit! Hence the orange light. Also this week, my breakfasts have been very easy and filling to say the least! A protein pancake made from following: 25gms LSA, 25gms Quinoa, 50gms of oats and cranberry mix, 4 egg whites. Yummmmmm! And easy to eat straight after training on way to work. Just nibble on it as driving. i seem to go with something for a while, then get sick of it and try something different. interesting, I have been looking for Quinoa for sometime in my regular shops, then when i finally find some in another shop, I seem to find it everywhere. So now I have a packet of rolled quinoa, quinoa flakes, split quinoa and whole quinoa. i don't think I am going to run out sometime soon.
BMR: 1786 cals
Food: 1369 cals
Exericise: 1315 cals
Training: 100% planned training done (spinning class), but boincing off walls with the extra strong coffee in afternoon, so went back to gym and did another 20 mins cardio and then did the new body balance launch - whew, new one is a bit challenging. Just waiting for coach to tsk tsk me for doing it! hehehehe. Did my last day of GBC lower body training today, really felt it in the butt when I did the lunge stage - I suspect that was caused by the body balance last night. Very focused on legs, butt and abdominals in this release.
Emotions: All good, very even keel still in place - really enjoying it atm. It feels so great not to be in a bad place, especially when you try and control it but it gets the better of you. Tis the end of the week. Really need to clean the house and yard.
Physical: Still have injury under armpit coming into play throughout the day as I move and do certain things. Tennis elbow not so bad this morning, but did do an icing protocal yesterday and then again today.

So heres to a good weekend, and succeeding in getting green ticks for both days!

Ciao!

Success Tick off!

2009-02-26T11:46:00.003+10:00

Yesterday's successes!
Food: Everything was eaten to plan. All measured and logged.
BMR: 1773
Food: 1467
Exercise: 652
Exercise: Upper body - back/shoulder/tri workout
Elliptical Trainer - interval approx 30mins
Emotions: All good, very much in a level place atm. I believe this week is all about karma - certain things have happened and been said that just appears to be 'karma' for me.
Physical: I have a niggling elbow injury and under the armpit injurt - elbow is a 'tennis elbow' which requires icing throughout the day. This will heal, just need to avoid upright rows and heavy forarm work. Under the armpit is totally muscle related and have been second guessing what is actually injured - serratus anterier......traps...........lats........delts........pecs...........??? So I am thinking it is about time I bit the bullet and went to a sports physiotherapist! But I think these injuries are hindered by the fact i am not taking any recovery supps atm either.

I have not taken any supps now for just under a week and half, keeping myself clear of everything until I go to Homeopath on Saturday. I am sure that there will be a series of blood tests done, I will also take my last lot. I only have to wait till Saturday. I will confer with coach afterwards.

Well that is all for today. Talk to you tomorrow.

Ciao!

Only You

2009-02-26T11:43:00.003+10:00

Self Motivation Tip: Don't Wait for Someone Else to Motivate You

At the end of the day, only you can motivate you. There is nothing that can be said that will get you off the couch and into the gym, or to push that extra serving of dinner away.

Not succeeding??? Not Believing????

2009-02-25T15:53:00.005+10:00

Seeing results is always a motivation to continue! Regardless of what your goals are, the worst thing is when you don't see any results!

I haven't been up to blogging lately, but don't worry I have been lurking. I have been thinking about what coach has written on her blog and there lies a hidden gremlin for me. What this gremlin sees is that 'we' are working very hard at our training, we eat 75-85% (trying to be honest here) clean, follow instructions 95% (also here)of the time and see no real tangible results. Then 'we' read others blogs and posts and see that they are kicking some serious results and the gremlin comes out to play with the brain!!!!!! Heart is heavy, mind is doing a million other things but focusing on what it should be doing, emotions decide that they want to play too. The gremlin seems to have control on a lot of things within this body. Bah to the gremlin! The mirror has become the enemy and you avoid looking in to see the real you! Your mood changes from one minute to the next, taking a strange and horrible shape of despair, you start feeling like your goals are really out of reach! I WANT MY MOJO BACK!

Time to get out of the land of mental funk and reignite my desires!

'Be miserable, or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it's always your choice!' - Wayne Dyer.

What are you training for?
Why do you have these specific goals?
What happens when you reach your goals?
How will you feel each day that you move closer to your goals?
How will you feel when you reach your goal?
What did you do today to work towards your goal?

Nicole Snell says that we all need a kick in the pants now and then. No matter how great we feel one day, we are bound to have a day when we'd like nothing less than to stay in bed. Just remember that those feelings will pass, and by using some re-assurance strategies, you can make sure that your bad day doesn't turn into the week of doom.

Well my gremlin let me down and allowed me to venture to the land of doom for about 2 weeks now. I have had enough. I WANT OUT!

Coach sent me an inspirational you tube clip that really set me about trying to inspire myself again. Now don't get me wrong, I have been training religiously - you know, turning up at the gym, doing what is required of me! Well now it is time to train like I want to train instead of training like I have to train. Now is the time to eat like I want to eat instead of eating like I have to eat. and most of all thinking postively and finding victories in everything I do each day.

So what did I do today to work towards my goal??

My victory today was that I trained hard enough to allow my niggling elbow/underarm injury not to be hurt, hammered it out on cardio for the morning session. Have eaten everything I planned to eat so far today. I have drunken half my water requirement and know that the rest will definately drunk before I get to bed. And the best thing of all.............I have broken out of the mental dumps!

I have also made an appointment to see a Homepath regarding the 'peri-menopause' symptoms I have been suffering for the last 2 years on and off (currently on) I have been to my local GP, and basically was told to ride the storm out!!! You know what, its time not to sit back and go with the flow, I need to make my daily life a little more easier with this issue, so that I can concentrate on what is important to me. Time to stop chiselling away at my committment I made to myself and my coach. It all boils downs down to not believing in yourself enough to commit to make it happen.

Inspiration

2009-02-11T15:21:00.000+10:00

Welcome to my world!

2009-02-10T20:42:00.002+10:00

Symptoms of peri-menopause
In the lead up to menopause (peri-menopause refers to 1 year before and 1 year after the last period), periods start to do all sorts of things, they may get heavier or lighter, last longer or get shorter in duration, they may start and stop, and they may no longer happen at regular intervals. Usually these changes seem to happen about 2 years before the last period occurs.

As ovulation may still be happening until that 12 months after your last period, it is probably best not to assume that you have had the last period until the 12 months is up. Therefore you may need to ensure that your method of contraception is reliable until the end if you do not wish to get pregnant.

It's important to remember that not everything that happens around the time of menopause is menopause.

Physical Changes During Menopause
In the menstrual cycle there are three main players which are the brain, the ovaries and the uterus.

When the the ovaries go into retirement at menopause, it may take the brain some time to adjust to the fact that the ovaries are not responding in their customary hormonal tango.

The brain is still sending out its hormonal messengers but is not getting the required response from the ovaries. All this time however, the hormones are still stimulating chemical (and therefore physical and emotional) reactions in the womans body and this may be a major factor in all the symptoms and difficulties that some women have in adjusting at this time.

How a woman copes with menopause depends on her genetic heritage (so how did your mum, grandmother, and aunts cope?), physical environment, and emotional and spiritual outlook, attitude and support.

A woman may be coping just fine, but if she experiences crises in other areas (with her partner, job, children, teenagers) of her life, the added stress may compound and increase her menopausal distress. All these outside factors affect the female hormones and therfore affect the menopause experience.

Common Menopausal Experiences

hot flushes / falshes which can be on any part of the body at any time of the day or night at any frequency.
night sweats
restless legs
insomnia
headaches / or migraines that get worse
palpitations
anxiety/ panic attacks
mood swings
irritability
depression (can exacebate normal predisposition to depression)
altered memory or concentration
"Just not Coping" or "Am I going mad Doctor?"
Fatigue
Loss of or reduced or sometimes increased libido/sex drive
vaginal changes (drier or pain during sex)
breast tenderness
bloating and swelling

BUT this is nothing compared to the lives that are being lost down south and up north for that matter. I had a massive cry last night, which actually helped me with a slight depressive state I was in on the weekend. So need the cry. Nothing like realising there are so many more so much worse off that you and your peri-menopausal state. Everytime I take one step forward, I always seem to be three steps back. But will not give up.

I am giving blood tomorrow to the Red Cross as I have a rarer type of blood. The beauty of my blood group, we can accept any type blood, but unfortunately only the same blood group can accept mine. My type is 3% of the population. I am also going to get all employees from my company to donate some of their wages next for the Victorian Fire.

Do you know what drives me nuts atm, people who smoke and throw their cigarette butts out the window. What is with that? As a non smoker, I really don't understand, and when I asked someone, they said because it stinks out the car. What the??? Why smoke in the first place. I am not judging anyone who smokes, but could you please keep your butts in the car, instead of throwing it out on the ground. Be more aware of your environment.

I think I had better go now before I upset someone.

Ciao!

Hymn to the Fallen Heroes who fight to save us

2009-02-09T21:02:00.000+10:00

Young and aged
volunteer and career,
man and woman
of all races and colors,
you left aching hearts behind

An eternal flame
warms your names
inscribed on cold, lifeless plaques
around this stone cairn
In the hearts you left behind
your memories abide
in undying gratitude

You asked nothing more
You knew the risks,
served without fear
and paid the highest price

You embody a quality
of which many only dream
Your selfesness for others
is now your eternal crown

O fallen comrades,
give us all this quality
that we may more fittingly
prolong your memory

Annonymons
June 1999

In the end it's all about balance

2009-02-05T19:58:00.001+10:00

When you want to lose a significant amount of weight, it's easy to fall into all-or-nothing thinking ...

You rationalize:
1. ) You have to follow a super-strict diet to succeed and/or
2.) If you fall off the wagon and eat junk for a day or two, you've blown it altogether.

This train of thought can be very detrimental to your weight loss efforts, but it's all too easy to fall into. So what's a "loser" to do?

Step One: Loosen Up
The first way to avoid all-or-nothing thinking is to shake the idea that you must follow an extremely restrictive diet to lose weight.
The fact is, most people who successfully maintain weight loss don't diet. They make healthy, permanent lifestyle changes, such as cutting back on calories, practicing portion control, and reigning in emotional eating.

Successful "losers" focus on weight management, not just weight loss.

Step Two: Give In... Just a Little
Severely limiting your food intake or completely cutting out your favorite foods sets you up to binge. Temptation becomes much less powerful when you can have just a taste of something "bad" now and again instead of telling yourself it's off limits for good.
This can be daunting at first. But you will become accustomed to satisfying your craving with a smaller amount of your trigger foods and you'll learn "when to say when".

Step Three: Stop Saying the "D Word"
We "go on" and "go off" diets after every holiday season; we say "I start my Monday." only to be off it by the weekend. Nobody says "I start my new way of life Monday." But that's exactly what we need to do. An effective diet isn't just for Christmas, it's for life.
To find a way-of-eating that works for the long haul, be leery of any plan that restricts entire food groups or that relies on one type of food (e.g. soup, pre-prepared entrees) as its mainstay.

We need variety not only for nutritional reasons, but also to satisfy ourselves. Believe me, because I've been there: Go on a diet that requires you to eat foods you don't like -- or completely omits your favorites -- and you will eventually dread every meal

Step Four: Forgive Yourself
So ... you've decided to give Step Two a try and allow yourself your favorite treat, chocolate chip cookies. But you don't stop at a couple ... you eat half the package. Then, for breakfast tomorrow morning ... you polish off the other half.
Have you completely blown your diet again? Does that mean it’s time to give up altogether? Do you think, "Maybe I'm just not cut out for this." and go back to old eating habits?

Not allowing yourself to make mistakes is the worst mistake you can make. Seriously.

Here's some food for thought: All-or-nothing thinking is a way to let yourself off the hook. It's an escape route. ("Oh, now I've screwed up. Glad I don't have to bother anymore".).

There's an old saying that goes, "No matter how far along you are down the wrong path, it's never too late to turn back.". So don't think just because you made bad choices today, you can't start over tomorrow.

It sounds trite, but every day truly is a new beginning. You can't erase last night’s binge, but you can aim for a much healthier today!

Step 5: Celebrate Small Victories
Go ahead: Praise yourself for the small challenges you surmount; you won't give up so easily if you do.

Take it easy on yourself as you're learning how to be a new, improved, healthier you. After all, you're only human... a soon-to-be-much-lighter human!

By Jennifer R. Scott

a little inspiration

2009-02-01T20:33:00.000+10:00

Mistress of Pain ....or....Just Pure Evil!

2009-01-31T19:56:00.003+10:00

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), also sometimes called muscle fever, is the pain or discomfort often felt 24 to 72 hours after exercising and subsides generally within 2 to 3 days. It is frequently said to be caused by lactic acid buildup;[citation needed] however, since lactic acid disperses fairly rapidly, it could not explain pain experienced days after exercise, and some concentric-only exercises produce lactic acid, but rarely produce DOMS.

Although the precise cause is still unknown, the type of muscle contraction seems to be a key factor in the development of DOMS. Exercises that involve many eccentric contractions, such as downhill running, will result in the most severe DOMS. This has been shown to be the result of more muscle cell damage than is seen with typical concentric contractions, in which a muscle successfully shortens during contraction against a load.

Some research claims that DOMS is not caused by the pain from damaged muscle cells, but from the reinforcement process. The muscle responds to training by reinforcing itself up to and above its previous strength by increasing the size of muscle fibers (muscle hypertrophy). This reinforcement process causes the cells to swell in their compartment and put pressure on nerves and arteries producing pain.

Meet "Cruella" aka "Mistress of Pain" aka "The Coach"

Man what a nasty piece of work. Did the famous 6-12-25's that Lisa often talks about. The coach decides just because it is my birthday that I should do a 'Denial Workout'. I am so so so so so so so so sore! I can not begin to explain how hard this training is. I felt slightly upset with myself as I did not finish the third set of the first set - missed about 10 1 and quarter squats. Training was yesterday afternoon, I suffered delayed latic nausea that night. Then got roped into bootcamp this morning, lugging tyres, jumpsquats (another evil woman), pushups, running and boxing. then decided to go for a walk to try and loosen up. Well guess what, the loosening up didn't work! I am stuck in my chair atm, not know how the hell I will be getting out of it to go to bed. So what is going through my head atm..............well what name to call the coach! Evil, nasty, cruel, biatch! What a way to spend your birthday! Doh! No but all kidding aside I enjoyed every minute of training, yesterday and today.

Also had a fantastic day with a lot of girlfriends having lunch on the gold coast - got a bit noisy with 12 people drinking wine, I should say 12 girls drinking wine! he he he he. I am a very spoilt person, having so many people so caring. The best!

What can I say of late, I know I have not been blogging of late, but all good, all well and enjoying it. Nothing really new, just having a fantastic time.

Ciao!

If I want it, can I have my cake too!

2009-01-31T05:59:00.002+10:00

Happy Birthday Me!

2009-01-27T10:57:00.001+10:00

Are you going to finish strong!

2009-01-23T18:40:00.002+10:00

www.maniacworld.com/are-you-going-to-finish-strong.html

If ever there was an inspiration speaker, there is Nick Vujicic is that person.

2009-01-20T18:02:00.002+10:00

Your rainbow is shaded violet and green.

What is says about you: You are a creative person. You feel strong ties to nature and your mood changes with its cycles. You are patient and will keep trying to understand something until you've mastered it. Those around you admire your fresh outlook and vitality.

Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.

Visualise

2009-01-14T09:22:00.001+10:00

Self image and the self fulfilling prophecy

2009-01-12T07:12:00.002+10:00

We are not only what we eat, but what we think as well!

Your self image is how you see yourself in your imagination. It's the blueprint that determines everything about you, from how motivated, intelligent and confident you are willing to let yourself be to how much weight you are willing to carry around with you or lose.

The reason our self-image has such a powerful influence on our behaviour is that it is self-reinforcing. For example, we've all met people who are not classically good-looking but have an extra aura of attractiveness. Because they think of themselves as attractive they carry themselves well, dress to bring out their most attractive features, and have the confidence to speak to anyone. This self-confidence makes them attractive to others, who respond positively to them, which reinforces their image of themselves as attractive.

Equally, there are plenty of people who think of themselves as unattractive, and unconsciously sabotage any attempts to appear attractive. After all, if you truly believe you are unattractive, why take the time to dress mutton up as lamb? However, if you don't do what it takes to represent yourself at your best, people will inevitably find you unattractive.

Either way, your self-image has worked perfectly, 'proving' itself right by guiding you to act consistently with who you believe yourself to be.

How do you change the pattern?

By getting into the habit of focusing your attention on what you actually DO want. Like it or not, you're going to need to get used to thinking of yourself with an attractive body.

Repitition, repitition, repitition!

Remember, repitition is the key to success. When we repeat an action, a neural pathway is created in the brain and each repitition reinforces it. As you think yourself the way you want to look, you are sending signals to your unconscious mind to behave and feel like that body you want. As your body gets lighter you will feel more sensitive, more energetic and more alive.

Source: Paul McKenna

Something to aspire!

2009-01-11T18:23:00.000+10:00

Keep your eye on the 'ball'

2009-01-06T10:22:00.004+10:00

Concentrate on what you can do and focus your attention.

Once you have decided what your bottom line and how you want your life to be, focus your attention on it. Concentration is essential. Ask questions and look for the answers.
Refuse to allow other people to do your thinking about how something should be done.
Associate with people who will help you achieve your goals and coach and inspires you to success. Drop less important activities and people who bring you down.
Put your heart and soul into it. Create an overwhelming desire to materialize your dream. Focus your thoughts and actions in the direction you are heading.
Avoid dwelling on negativity. Think positive and abundance. Imagine, affirm and resolve to succeed.

Eliminate self-imposed limitations.

What you have achieved in the past does not determine what you are capable of accomplishing now and in the future.
Decide to make the changes necessary. A change in your perception about your potential will help tremendously in your pursuit.
Change your mindset about your limitations. Create an image of success and it will help build your confidence and esteem.
Think out of the box and think differently from how failures do. Self-imposed limitations are just excuses.
Playback your success recordings that are stored in your mind. Let that remain in your focus. You will feel more in control and adequate.

Take consistent action.

Even a small action produces its consequence. Develop the discipline to take even a simple action each day even though you are unsure of the outcome. Induce the attitude of positive expectancy and believe that your actions will lead to favorable results.
Fight the procrastination habit and develop a sense of urgency. Put in the hard work, the effort and finish what you started.
You have to work on your personal growth and your goals every day to create the momentum. You need to pay the price.

You need to work harder than the 'average'.

"Success is simple. Do what's right, the right way, at the right time." - Arnold H. Glasgow

source: About Personal Growth

I see you!

2009-01-04T11:02:00.004+10:00

Visualise, visualise, visualise.

Now is the time to start. Even if you can only find ten minutes a day to picture what you will look like, the end result. The key is seeing yourself on the stage competing in your class, with a flat stomach or whatever it is that drives you the most.

Pull out pictures of people whose bodies that you admire and visualise it. Affirm to yourself that you are worthy and will have the body you dream of by the time you are done.
A picture in your mind and these affirmations will force you to go to the gym when nothing else will. Hang the pictures on your refrigerator or make them your screen saver at work. Nothing will come between you and your goal. Not even yourself!

These are some of the words I pulled from an article by Christina Lindley.

Couch Potato!

2009-01-03T18:18:00.002+10:00

Couch potato, that was me today. I started the day with a very long sleep in - got up at 7.30am, which is very late for me. Whoa, is it going to be hard to get up at 4.30am on Monday. Then inbetween loads of washing clothes, I sat and watched about 4 dvds with the boys (hubby and son). The day was unbelievably cool, which should have been spent outside, but no I sat watching and vegeing big time.

So what is in store for me in the next couple of weeks.

Tomorrow I am going into the gym to do some weights (lower) and some much needed cardio that I had planned for today. On the way home it is time to buy all my green grocery, so it is nice and fresh for the week ahead, prepare the veges into portions, peeled, diced, sliced and chopped, ready for each meal. I will also prepare my proteins for the week, my breakfasts and ensure I have plenty of low joule treats on hand like jellys and puddings, incase the dreaded sweet attack appears. I actually can not wait for work again as it is so much easier to control my food intake. In saying that, I have so far manage to acheive a steady intake of food in 5 small meals in the last 3 days, so big green tick on the improvement goal for intake.

“The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.”
Vince Lombardi

Commitment; Staying the Course. True commitment inspires the people around you, shows your conviction, and creates an atmosphere conducive to achievement. Although commitment means different things to different people, the true nature of commitment is always the same. The True Nature of Commitment........Starts in the Heart.....Talent is not enough.

Intelligence is not enough.

To achieve success takes “heart”.

It’s what makes you get up when you fall, makes you jog one more lap, practice one more shot, squeeze out one more rep.

True commitment withstands any adversity. That’s not to say that you won’t suffer setbacks - you will. But true commitment picks you up, and finds a way to stay the course.

True commitment creates momentum - and momentum is the difference between effective leadership and failure. It is the difference maker.

To improve your commitment, do the following: Measure It
Align It with Your Values: No matter how talented you may be, you can not be truly committed to a cause (work, social, or otherwise) that is in direct conflict with your personal values.

Make It Public
If you feel you have a problem with taking the first step toward commitment - make it public. Tell others what you intend to do, put out a press release - you might just find that by making your commitments public, you’ll have an easier time following through.

Recap:
The True Nature of Commitment:
Starts in the Heart
Is Tested through Adversity
Is a Catalyst to Achievement
To Improve Your Commitment
Measure It
Align It with Your Values
Make It Public

Project yourself into the future for a moment
Imagine yourself hanging out with your friends at a restaurant and not feeling anxious when you order a burger, ice cream or creampie...
Imagine how would you feel if you saw a slender, sexy reflection in the mirror, knowing that that person is you... Knowing that you are handsome looking again.
Or imagine how your friends would react if they saw you coming into the room looking fit, slim and handsome...
Your dreams WILL come true only if you never give up!

Ciao!

2009 - a year to improve

2009-01-01T08:38:00.003+10:00

Happy New year bloggers.

So have you laid out your new years resolutions??? I actually don't like to use the word resolutions - as what do I have to resolute?? But I do need to improve! So what do I need to improve on for the year 2009.

Health: You can never stop improving your health. This should be one of the highest priorities in everyone's life. We have one life and we should look after that life in the best way. Take in clean healthy food and get exercise everyday is the game plan for improving my health.

Nutrition: I can always always improve my nutrition! My promise to myself is to eat 100% clean 99% of the time, no processed foods at all, no bad snacks, no nibbles. As bread is starting to affect me in awful ways, I am going to try going gluten free on a lot of the food items that are processed, like bread and processed carbohydrates. My other improvement promise is to eat 5-6 meals everyday, including weekends where I often will eat breakfast and don't eat till very late afternoon - which will sometimes often end with a binge of something. So this will change and improve.

Dedication: This area has much needed overhaul, and the new year will require 110% dedication, in order to reach my BEHAG goals. Dedication and concentration are the main requirements to acheive and I WILL ACHEIVE!

Self Esteem: This is a very grey area, but like the three priorities in my life above, this will get equal effort placed on and I will improve my self esteem. I will be more confident with my decisions, I will not procrastinate and I will not hesitate at any point. Time to take the bull by the horns and my first step to this is to start taking progress pictures (thanks Steph, you put that thought into my head) on a more regular basis.

so these are my four main improvements that I will concentrate on. With improvement, there will come contentment! and that my friends is the ultimate improvement, contentment!

Ciao and again a very happy new year!

Body parts in the "Buckets List"

2008-12-31T17:26:00.001+10:00

Merry Christmas Everyone!

2008-12-25T09:43:00.000+10:00

Time for catchup!

2008-12-20T17:51:00.002+10:00

Whoa, what a week I have had. It has been so busy at work, that I really haven't had time to post or blog. A bit amiss I know, but what can I say........................ where does the time go??

Okay so where did I leave off and what do I have to tell.

I had a spike last weekend then nice drop each day until thursday. I had a german pretzel along with rye sandwich for lunch, which produce a massive spike. So bread is my poison it appears and results in very high spikes. So now to find alternatives that will give me better results. I do love wraps from stores but when I make them, they don't taste the same. All the ingredients are the same just doesn't taste the same. Weird hey.

Anyway food had been good until the Thursday, when I had too much bread for my body's liking. Training also suffered this week due to massive amount of work, hav been starting around 5.30am in the morning and leaving around 6pm. So gymtime was compromised. No matter, about to have almost 2 weeks off work so I will catchup on all my gym time.

Life is just moving along at the moment no special information that stands out to share. All good with everything, just madly busy and trying to get on top of it all at work.

I will try and catch up again this weekend.

Ciao!

Inspiration for the weekend.

2008-12-12T22:07:00.001+10:00

Ramblings

2008-12-12T07:40:00.002+10:00

This was me this morning, rackpull deadlifting, and yep I took it one step higher.............Coach, I did 100. last set of 5 reps after 4 working sets at 90. then I am slowly mastering the front squat. 45 deg leg press wide and high, then leg extensions. My legs were a little like jelly by the time I got to the xtrainer, but hung in there. So exercise done and dusted for the day!

I had the best night sleep last night, went to be at 8.30pm and didn't wake until 4.20am - time to go to the gym.............how awesome is that. I admit I took Arginine tablets last night.

The recession is playing heavy on a lot of minds, talking to people I know who run their own business, and they are seriously struggling. My work has only suffered slightly, not a lot atm, but next year we will feel it when nobody buys land to build, or develops etc etc etc. Reading the international news this morning, Woolworths in England has gone belly up and 10 thousand employees are out of a job...........now that is seriously bad stuff.

Metal monster was again kind this morning, so a all new low has been set once again this week. Bring it on!

I hope you all have a good weekend and don't do anything naughty!

Ciao!

Dreams???

2008-12-11T12:58:00.002+10:00

Now I am not a person who dreams at night, never really did! But last night I had the worst night's sleep! I was talking to a friend briefly on the phone, she was telling she was retrenched on Friday, and that just scared the crap out of me! That it happened to someone that I know. So I obviously went to bed with a lot on my mind......................and started to dream. (nightmare!!) My dream was truly weird and yes i was retrenched in my dream. But the twist was, I was following my husband in a car he was fixing and it was doing weird things like going all over the road. I thought he was speeding so I phoned him and told him off. He then came to an intersection and crashed it into another persons car, who happened to be an elderly gentleman. I stopped on the side of the road, but sat in my car, thinking that it would be sorted soon, but when I looked up, I was watching my husband proceed to beat up this old man (now my husband is not a violent man in anyway, so I don't know what left field that came from). To cut a long story short, we were takend to court (and rightly so, if it had of been me, i would have done the same), but I had left David before the court case, but we lost everything? i then woke up in a cold sweat and couldn't sleep afterwards. Now this is pretty off the planet for me, as I said I never never dream, when I sleep, I really sleep. Obviously the economy is playing heavy on my mind both work and home wise. Anyway moving on............................

Yesterday was a good day, trained legs hard. Food was very tight and fluids kept up. Metal monster was every so kind with a dram of a drop, so pat on the back for that! Did spinning this morning with the lovely Nikki, who might I add looks great with her new additions - yep she has a new set of twins! Left the spin class, just as red faced as i was on saturday morning, like the photo below!

Got legs again tomorro morning, saturday is a rest day and then upper body on sunday with a bit of cardio. Was going to shout myself a new gym outfit from Gym Funky, but decided to pull my head in abit, and maybe reward myself for my birthday with an outfit (maybe even a size smaller.......fingers crossed).

Well hope you all have a great day

Ciao!

Motivation for today!

2008-12-10T14:13:00.004+10:00

Mirror Mirror on the Wall! (Dr J's head-cleaners)

2008-12-10T13:11:00.005+10:00

Struggle with self-esteem issues? Feel loathing when you look in a mirror? Does this not waste an enormous amount of time and energy?

Self Esteem is the esteem one feels toward one's self. It is a fundamental attitude that one has toward one's self. It's a tough world, it's a tough life and it's tough to know how to handle things sometimes.. It's also a world of choices, feelings, thoughts and free will. Everybody gets to decide for him or herself how much esteem they are due! It's a big problem when one's self-esteem is poor, when we don't like ourselves, we don't make good choices.

Life can mess with you sometimes to the extent that you can simply have a problem of excesive harshness in how you see yourself and how you decide to react to your weaknesses. This is something like the "body distortion" that individuals with anorexia or obesity experience. People with very poor self-esteems sometimes simply have to understand that, when it comes to self, they don't have good judgement about what is appropriate in terms of expectations and goals, cause for rewards, cause for punishments, and what would be appropriate levels of displayed anger and rage. The proof of this and the fix of this is in asking a simple question to measure one's judgements: Do you treat yourself in the same way you would a colleague? Do you encourage yourself like you would a colleague? Do you coach yourself after failures and successes the way you would a colleague? If the answer is no to any of these, then the next question should be WHY? Identifying the presence of such a mental 'soft-spot' is not the same as avoiding it. It's very hard to adjust one's attitude toward self. Catching yourself and correcting yourself should apply with one rule........"Do unto self what you would do unto others!"

Another common glitch in life is that we tend to see what we expect to see and disregard the rest. It may be that many people underestimate their numbers of successes versus their numbers of mistakes. It seems that our brains are structured to pay more attention to things that go wrong than things that go right. But for individuals with very poor self-esteem this can mean routinely discounting succeses as no big deal or nothing to get cocky about while carefully remembering every mistake and emotionally abusing one's self for each and every one, and generally feeling like a major idiot loser all the time.

so "Mirror Mirror on the wall, how can I make friends with Y'all" You work for yourself, you are your own boss. When there is hard feelings at work between colleagues, there is always recourse to make peace. A face to face is helpful, reassuring each other that both are really working on this. In self esteem, this translates to work in the mirror - eyeball to eyeball - mono to mono with yourself. Start with being civil and apologising to the person you are looking at for being such a crappy person to work with and pledge to try to do much better. Ask yourself this quesiton: how many mistakes do I make versus how many failures. Conside the last week as an example. Whatever numbers you come up with, ask yourself if you credited yourself for every step, every correction in planning, every forkful of food, every time you moved. If your reaction to this last question is to suggest that these are silly things to count, then ask yourself if you would have counted any of these things if you had made an error. Probably you would have. It would have been on your "I'm so stupid" list if yu had tripped and broke your wrist, if you had driven off the road or driven over a pedestrian, if you had stuck a forkful of food into your eye, if you had lost your paycheque on the way to the bank, or if you poisoned yourself or gave yourself food poisoning. Right? Proud is allowed.

What to do: Work on being smarter on rewards, punishments and ignoring. When something goes a little well, it should be rewarded, reward any step towards a goal and you're more likely to get to that goal. Ignore partial successes and reduce the possible of full success. Avoid severe self-directed anger, derisive statemetns ("you stupid fat @#$%)! and self sabotage as a "behaviour mod" strategy unless you are trying to drive yourself to self-mutlitation or suicide. When you make a mistake, kick yourself in the butt once and then pat yourself on the back for noticing that you had made a mistack. Work on being able to tolerate the yuckiness of guilt feelings without saying negative things to yourself, the yuck feelings are pretty much all the kick in the butt anyone ever needs.

So what brought this about you all ask. Well after the fantastic weekend, I got a bit down on myself after seeing the photos that were hanging around - thinking "wow you are massive Doris compared to others" "Look at how disgusting you are"..........and consequently sort of self-sabotaged myself on sunday. Then went into a bout of depression, to bed early and woke up feeling very self pitiful and self loathing on Monday morning. Had a little cry, had a little talk with "coach", but still feeling a little shitty, because on top of waking up feeling that way, my metal monster showed a massive spike. I wasn't worried about the spike because knowing the way my body goes, there will follow a massive drop (which I might add did happen and I am back to my new low). But being in the headspace that I was in, it didn't get received too well. Now I was given some positive feedback but on Monday it didn't sink in too well. so I have been doing some reading, looking back at some books I have and started reading a book given to me by the beautiful Elsbe, who is a true christian women. this lady does anything and everything her power to help others less fortunate than herself, both here in Brisbane and also worldwide. Now after reading the above article and some of Elsbe's book, I started to acknowledge some of the feedback given to me, and have started eyeballing myself in the mirror. My next hurdle is to accept my photos and deal with them in a positive way rather than seeing the negative of it all. A hard and long process. A friend once said to me, that maybe my self-negativity stems back to my childhood and the favouritism shown to my sister at all times. I would like to take that as an excuse but I can not, because that means I am looking for the excuse the feel the way that I do. So moving on, patting myself on the back for accepting one of my problems today, posting about it, I will move on and try and be so much more positive about my journey.

I thank you for listening and looking forward to talking to you all gain.

ciao!

What ! No AIR CON!

2008-12-08T13:22:00.003+10:00

I bet everyone is sick of seeing this photo! it certainly has done the rounds! Man, want a good workout with heaps of sweat, do a spin class for 60mins with no airconditioner, sit in the corner, where the fan doesn't get you and work at it till you are so dizzy, you almost fall off your bike. Did anyone notice David in the second row, he had a swimming pool at his feet! LOL
OMGosh - talk about a hot hot spin class! Awesome ladies! It was so fantastic to catch up with Steph, Nicole, Shelley and Lisa, great to finally catch up with Carolyn once again (May 2008 was the last time) and to meet the awesome Fernster and last but not least it was good to see Liz (who did train till she almost puked) That track 7 (which became track 9 in the 60min class) is just a killer! I think this would be the first spin class where my aversion to fans was swayed!
so i don't know about you guys, by late afternoon, it was taking its toll on me, was looking pretty cruisy laying on the couch watching a dvd! IN FRONT OF THE FAN.

So what is it with photos and headspace and my stupid emotions!!! ARghhh!

Friday night, went to my works xmas party, remind me next year to wear flat shoes at the pub, my feet were just killing me by the end of the night, i ended up wearing my sons shoes walking to the carpark in the rain, while he was in socks. LOL, he was so drunk, he didn't even realise he was walking in socks...........told him I wasn't washing them, just throw them straight out. It was funny seeing my son so drunk with his mate Jeremy. I was being a good girl and only had 2 drinks for the entire night. You know it gets a bit old hat when you always go to functions, or bbqs, or parties, and you don't drink and everyone around you gets so drunk. they yell at you, they lean all over you, they proceed to tell you how you should be doing it!

So heres to another healthy and planned week on the journey to the BEHAG!

CIAO!

Only to go back for more!!

2008-12-05T08:12:00.003+10:00

Oh, I am so so so so so so so sore! Did a huge leg workout yesterday with the "coach". My hands and fingers are so sore from gripping the bar without straps for rackpull deadlifts (heavy) and so many sets! My chest is sore from doing front squats - something that I am going to have to get used to - not liking them but definately see the difference in doing them. My chest is sore because of the bar that goes accross it. My back is sore already from this morning! Well not sore but very very tight. Please, god of muscle, please don't let me be sore tomorro for when I do the psycho spin class from hell!!!!

All good on the exercise front - weights are just coming along nicely - am seeing some very good increases in strength and endurance. Best pb - can do chest flyes, full range (very deep and full extension), with 15kg dumbbells very comfortably for a full set. Wahoo! 17.5kg look out, here I come. Cardio has been short but very very intense.

Food has been very tight except for last night, had a minor mishap and boy my stomach is paying for it today. Also had a spike on the metal monster, could be from some serious doms or even the mishap last night - no matter, knowing my weekly pattern, it is due for a spike anyway. Would so kill for a massage, a nice long all over massage. Got to get there one day!

Head space a little screwed today, but that is another matter, something I need to improve on - build my little wall a little higher so that I don't get disappointed again. Make myself just that little harder, not to get upset over stupid things.

All in all, It is going to be a nice weekend. Hope you all have a good one. Talk to you soon.

Ciao!

For the "coach"

2008-12-04T08:31:00.002+10:00

Hump Day Inspiration!

2008-12-03T14:25:00.001+10:00

U Beaut ozi Ute!

2008-12-03T13:30:00.004+10:00

Okay, again I have taken a few days to blog again. i always open up the page at work to start one,but something comes up, I close and then never think about it.

So lets start with an update of what has happening over last few days. I reached another low on the metal monster, to spike again but this is now such a routine with my "Intelligent Body" that I know what to expect on certain days! It is consistant to say the least! but we are having movement! Wahoo!

training wise, I am getting increasing in strength as well. I have made some awesome increases in weights - which I just love. Have a training session with 'Coach' tomorrow, which I am promised to be totally smashed! Need some serious rest tonight.

I also have decided that I now like my ute! Have always loved sports cars and one day will get back into them, but since I sold my little MX5 (so cute), I now am a proud owner of a VY-SPack Commodore (another thing that I really didn't like, but they are not so bad after all, just a preference thing). This is the youngest car i have ever owned so all the new gadgety things are great, like auto lights, the radio stays on when you turn car off and remove keys, doors lock when you put it into gear etc etc etc. I know I know, small things amuse small minds! hehehehe! But undertaking the philosophy, it is a car, that gets me from A to B, it is an automatic, makes it easier for traffic while driving to and from work in peak hour and it is a ute, can carry more shit! LOL think the husband is regretting getting me the ute, as I come home with more stuff! Here is a picture of the U Beaut, ozi Ute!

Ahhh! xmas is nearly here and I am dreading it. The best thing is, we have agreed not to go anywhere this year, home time and relax time and the best for me GYM TIME! Wahoo! I get to play during the day! Now that brings a smile to my face. A friend asked what was on my wish list for xmas presents, and you know what, I actually only have one wish - BEHAG! i want results, that will be the best present I could ever have! But alas only I can give myself that present and my intelligent body! So its all up to me! As for the boys, well I am over giving them hints, so this year I am saying nuting! If they can not think for themselves, then thats too bad for me! Its not the gift you get, but the thought process behind it that makes a gift special!

Well I best be getting back to work, a few more hours to go.

Ciao!

From sausages to rings falling off fingers!

2008-11-28T11:03:00.005+10:00

Okay, so how was your week?

Mine started mediocre as you already know, but it got better as the week came on. I had drops everyday since the swelling and today, my rings are sliding around my fingers. Woot woot!

I was expecting some very severe DOMS from Monday, a repercussion from the punishment I inflicted on myself, but no - no real pain, except this morning, when I did romanian deadlifts, my glutes reminded me that I was not a nice person on monday. But my upper body, now there are some serious hurting going on there, and I only trained it yesterday morning! I am thinking that I didn't give myself enough recovery time from upper body on Tuesday morning. I had a brainfart and forgot it was cardio morning yesterday, walked into the gym and started doing my usual upper body stuff! Go figure - no matter will just have to do the cardio either tomorrow or Sunday.

Also I was expecting TTOM, as it is exactly 4 weeks since the last cycle. But nothing yet..........could be still early days yet. Hopefully it is still coming into a natural cycle.

Now thanks to LJ and The Fernster, I have discovered that I like Ed Hardy clothing range, but it is pricey! So I am setting myself up a reward for my birthday, if I can reach a mini goal I have set for myself, i will buy me something, and seeing that there is now a shop in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast, it will be much easier than buying online. I just love the Black Razor Back Singlet - Black Geisha or a hot pink tank - Davy Jones Locker (currently looking for picture atm) Thanks Lia for the tidbit! One other reward I am giving myself is a "Camilla Dress" wow there are some very dreamy collections there. All silk! But just stunning!

BEHAG is finally on track and heres to hoping that it absolutely stays on track.

And here we go again!

2008-11-24T07:57:00.002+10:00

Argh! woke up this morning and my hands and feet were swollen, feeling really tight and uncomfortable! hmmm. I know i didn't have anything to eat yesterday that would have jeopardised my journey (except the crunchie bar travelling home in car - forgo the afternoon tea for that and had to calm my nerves from my parents),BUT I did not have any fluids for most of the day, only about 1 litre all up, shame shame on me. It could be a build up to TTOM, as it has been 24 days since last one ..................or it could even be Ross River Fever playing up again after all these years................nah, doesn't feel like it, so cross that off the list. Now that is something not to enjoy, the aches and pains in your joints just about sends you nuts. Scale weight up as well.

I know you all are thinking why is she jumping on the scales every day............. it is not to see if I have lost anything but more to guage how my body reacts to different exercises and eating patterns. i do have these massive ups and downs in one day and it totally has to do with my recovery and circulatory system. This morning only proved it big time. i know that jumping on every day can play havoc with the headspace, but as I am doing this as experiments and gauging reactions.

As I woke up, feeling all puffy and swollen, i thought about giving gym a miss, but the inner beast inside, you know the one who is on this BEHAG journey, said "get the F*&$ up". So off I toddle to the gym, I thought it was upper body day, but upon checking it actually was lower leg day, so first day i actually groaned at the thought of doing leg weights. Anyways, I through myself into it, set up the bench this time instead of steps for my box squats, put on the obligatory 10kg each side of the olympic bar for the warm up session. Jammed out 10 reps, re-racked and then started stacking and moving. I got to the end of the 3rd set, now having 30kg each side, I thought stuff it, i was in no mood, so to punish myself, I threw on another 10kg each side, and managed 6 reps with good form. Legs shaking like a leaf! Whoa! and now I want me to do step ups with dumbbells! No bloody likley! so I opted out of the step ups, went to the cable machine and did weight lunge pulls. Still went heavy on those, had myself strapped into 50kg on the cable and did 3 sets of lunges on each leg for 8 reps. So now that is out of my systems, went back to my normal routine, Romanian Deadlifts, then Leg curls. now my legs really hurt. I thought ha! that will teach you for thinking of staying in bed in the first place. Then cooled down for 20mins on tready at 5% incline. now sitting at work, legs feeling a little warm and also dreading what tomorrow will bring!

So what is on the cards for the rest of the day.....................water, lots and lots of water.

Ciao!

Awesome Back!

2008-11-23T19:59:00.004+10:00

Many of you have already seen this picture on Fern's blog, but I just had to show it again. Now thats what I am talking about! Miss Tank, this is why you rock! To have a back like this is ultimate reward for hard work! How awesome is this back.

A long overdue post!

2008-11-23T19:36:00.002+10:00

Well bloggers, I have been amiss in blogging of late. No real excuse, just busy with life, exercise and reading.................yep, that is what I have been doing almost every night after work and my daily grind at home, I unwind with a couple of good books that I now have read twice because they were so good. So now I have computer time to dedicate to!

So what has happened in the last week. Well "Dr Frankenstein" coach has me doing a few things to monitor my reactions to certain things. Scale weight has a definate pattern to it now and I do have a wave pattern that seems to happen. i did have a good drop during the week, actually I was quite chuffed with the results and then doms and circulatory recovery issues came into play and the scale weight spiked yet again, but not so high this time. Bread is definately an issue with me so I will have to avoid as much as possible, looking for better alternatives at all times.

Training has just been absolutely awesome. I am still loving those box squats and I did better than the last heavy set, with doing a set with 35kg each side of the olympic bar and managed 8 strong full sets. Do you know the hardest part is the rising, once you place yourself onto the step, getting back up is such a killer on the quads, glutes and abs! Best workout is for the abdominals. Then to jump straight into dumbbell step ups, my legs truly are shaking by the time I finish. I have been getting stronger in my chest again, and the old injury is starting to fade away to almost nothing. Some days I do get a small twinge but its all good.

I did Coach's RPM class on Saturday and I must say that I loved it. So good to get a different sort of spinning class from someone different. I must say that all the spin instructors I have followed, everyone is different from the other, and each one is as hard as it comes. Track 7 is an absolute killer Liz, and it totally left me red faced as per the evidence on the photo. LMAO!

Personal life on hold atm, until I get time off work to have a good think and look at what I really need to change in my life to make my life a little happier or maybe smoother. I am very happy in myself, but you can always use improvement right?? Slowly but surely some changes are being made.

Also talking about changes, small changes are happening on the BEHAG journey, just not as fast as I would like it, but you know what, that doesn't matter as the current journey is enjoyable atm. I mean, size is dropping slightly, I am getting stronger, body is starting to act normal again...................!

Until next post, which I promise to keep a little more regular, have a great week! I know I will.

Eat well and train hard!